It was a night to send messages.
Manchester City fans boycott for nine minutes to send their owners to their owners on the price of tickets, Ruud Van Nistelrooy leaving Harry Winks at home and hanging Jamie Vardy at halftime, but, the most poignant of all, came from Jack Grenish with a message that nobody knew.
Thousands of people knew the protest of Ticketing and Van Nistelrooy shooting the experienced members of his locker room was not a big surprise. But while Grenalish scored after 109 seconds, looked at the sky and pointed with both hands, only after the match, he became clear why.
Tuesday evening, 25 years ago for the day since the younger brother of Grenish, Keelan, died of the death of the CO at only nine months.
Grealish, only four at the time, was suffocated when he explained why this goal, his first in the league in 16 months, was as special as possible.
“It was a great day,” said an emotional Grealaish. “My little brother died 25 years ago. It’s a difficult day in my family.
There were a lot of empty seats at Etihad with fans boycotting the start of the match
The supporters indicate that their feelings are clear when preparing the Premier League with Leicester
Jack Grenish Scores at the fifth minute, but many fans have missed the goal because of their protest
It was a birthday that Pep Guardiola boss was not aware either.
“Jack is an incredible human being,” said Guardiola. “He is incredibly generous. Something bad has happened for himself. I didn’t know.
“I can’t imagine how difficult it can be for him and his mom, dad and sister and the whole family.
Grealish came as one of the six changes brought by Guardiola from the victory of the FA Cup in Bournemouth, with the starlet of the Academy Nico O’Reilly another propelled in the side for his first departure in the Premier League.
Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Abdukodir Khusanov and Mateo Kovacic all fell on the bench and never succeeded. Erling Haaland, who flew to Barcelona this week for treatment on an ankle injury that should keep him away for six weeks, was also absent.
There was a change in the canoe to face for City also with Juanma Lillo to fill Guardiola after having taken a touches for his third yellow card last weekend.
But, and it seems crucial to underline, it was Leicester City on the other side. It was Leicester City, a team on a series of seven consecutive championship defeats – all without scoring a goal – and only two victories of 17 all competitions.
Thus, invariably, there was no surprise when after 109 seconds, the city was ahead.
The manager of Leicester, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, cuts a frustrated silhouette while his side slides to another loss
Omar Marmoush groups together to double the advantage of hosts after half an hour at Etihad
The Egyptian striker, who joined in January for 63 million pounds sterling, proves to be a good signature for Man City
Thousands of people have not seen it, the South is particularly empty as unhappy fans, upset by the news last week that Viagogo became the ninth club of external ticketing of the club, remained in the hall.
Three groups – 1894, fans of the trade blues and fans of MCFC Foodbank – mobilized and thousands of empty seats provided the backdrop of the celebration of Grealish after having converted the reduction of Savinho of the right.
In an instant, Leicester City looked beaten. It had taken less than two minutes to crush their mind.
“It is to do with personal pride and honor, do work as well as possible,” said Van Nistelrooy.
“It is my motivation and how I get up every morning, it requires character and resilience, accept reality, look in the mirror and return to players and staff to do better.”
The fact that they have now conceded first in 25 of their 30 championship games since the promotion of last summer did not help to promote a lot of belief or team spirit, in truth.
City has doubled their advance after 29 minutes after a Leicester gift – just what you need when your own fans spent the night sing sarcastically each pass over.
The Ballon of Ruben Dias in the ball was groped by the Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen after Wout Faes crossed his Eyline, allowing Omar Marmoush a Tap-in, even if he touched the underside of the transverse bar to find the net.
Leicester removed a Vardy sulk at halftime – the “ resting it ‘was the rather common explanation of Van Nistelrooy after – and he could only make his way through a second half when the goalkeeper of Manchester City Ederson was so calm that he could have watched him sitting next to him.
Grealish wanted a penalty shortly after restarting after being cut, but referee Darren England had no interest and Marmoush was blocked when he sought to mark his second.
In truth, City did not need to get out of second speed here to propel itself into the top four. Leicester is appalling and could well finish the bottom of the league. On these evidence, it will take a long time before these two meet again equal.