That statistic provides only a small indicator of the dominance City have enjoyed in Manchester over the last four years, the four domestic trophies we've collected in those four years provides an even bigger one. But the flight toward the paradise of Premier League and European success is a tempestuous one, and in the last three weeks, Manuel Pellegrini has been unable to pilot the Blues through the turbulence.
City surrendered a 2-0 lead in Russia two weeks ago, a result that initiated a miserable run of form stained by losses to both West Ham and Newcastle United, but it would be wrong to suggest that Manuel Pellegrini's problems began on that bitter night in Moscow. Velocity no longer characterises our attacking play, solidity no longer defines our back line, and although I feel Paul Scholes is abusing his new role as a pundit to verbally assault the teams he holds personal vendettas against, he is correct in saying that our players look 'bored'. These issues didn't surface two weeks ago; they've been present since August.
As Manchester City know all too well, defending a Premier League title is harder than actually winning one. In the summer transfer window, vulnerable areas in the squad must be addressed and replenished with the quality required to improve the team and to mount another convincing challenge for trophies. Pellegrini necessitated the need for two quality players in every position on the field before the 2014/2015 campaign began, but the business he conducted seems to have weakened the side.
(Manuel Pellegrini has endured a problematic start to his second season in England)
No complaints were raised when Bacary Sagna, Fernando Reges, Willy Caballero and Eliaquim Mangala joined the club in the summer. Pablo Zabaleta needed cover after Micah Richards rejected a new contract, Yaya Touré and Fernandinho needed back-up in case of injury, Joe Hart needed genuine competition after an uncertain campaign and Vincent Kompany needed a young and talented defensive partner to replace the aging Martin Demichelis.
Fans make the criminal mistake of basing their opinions of new additions on Youtube videos; videos that highlight a player's strengths, but completely disregard their weaknesses. Unfortunately, the Youtube compilations Manchester City fans consulted five months ago failed to acknowledge Fernando's naivety in possession, they hid Caballero's reserved nature in the penalty box, and they ignored Mangala's carelessness in the tackle. Only one player was brought in to address long term issues and infuse the starting eleven with extra quality, and in focusing on stabilising his entire squad, Manuel Pellegrini neglected the potential cracks that could start to form in his starting eleven.
With an average age of 28.9, Manchester City's squad is the oldest in the Premier League. Yaya Touré was a juggernaut in the heart of the midfield last term and contributed 20 goals to City's title winning season, but at 31-years-old, fans knew that the incredible form Yaya hit last term would never be replicated. As many of us predicted, the Ivorian has been a passenger in team so far this season and has offered nothing to our attacking play that dismantled and terrified opponents last year. Touré exhaled his last puff of enthusiasm in a sky blue shirt on May 11th, and his lack of energy has left us vulnerable in centre of midfield and without vitality going forward.
(Yaya Touré has failed to replicate the outstanding form he hit last term)
Yes, Pellegrini's summer signings have failed to improve the team so far this term, but his freedom to supplement the side with trophy winning talent was heavily restricted by Uefa's financial fair play regulations. The Chilean needed to bring in dynamic rather than 'safe' players in the summer, but with a limited budget, that was incredibly hard to do.
In Mangala, I feel we've seen Pellegrini's true intentions for the team. The Frenchman is unpredictable, but also lightning fast and commanding in the air. There's no denying that the former FC Porto defender has endured an underwhelming start to life in Manchester, but he possesses the attributes necessary to succeed in both the Premier League and Europe. Mangala needs time, and in time, City fans must trust that he will develop into a reliable and exceptionally exciting player.
Comparatively, it's clear that Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero were brought in for squad strengthening rather than first-team improving purposes. All three are proven talents and will provide satisfactory cover for City's starting eleven, but they do not represent Pellegrini's real vision for the team. The 61-year-old today admitted that financial fair play regulations prevented Manchester City from bidding for Manchester United's Ángel Di María, and the fact that Pellegrini was considering an offer for a player as extraordinarily talented as the Argentine should excite City fans. Our manager has an intriguing vision for this club, and we should not judge him on a transfer window in which his hands were tied.
(Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that City would have bid for Ángel Di María if they hadn't have been restricted by financial fair play regulations)
Negativity has overwhelmed the side this week following their dismal cup exit against Newcastle United on Wednesday night, but the Manchester derby offers the players a chance for redemption. The manager has been slammed with the brunt of the criticism that has emerged in response to our worrying run of form, but the players must also accept responsibility and exhibit their real brilliance on Sunday afternoon. City's troubles have been magnified in the build up to Sunday's tie, but one must remember that both Manchester clubs have underperformed this season, and that one club sits five places above in the other in the league table with the added pressures of European football.
Manchester derbies always occupy a special place on the Premier League calendar, but for Manchester City, Sunday's meeting could prove to be a turning point in their season.
