#360view: Nasri shows glimpses of best with change afoot

Alam Khan - Reporter 06:45 29/08/2016
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  • Working through issues: Nasri and Guardiola.

    When Samir Nasri was sent on for the final 15 minutes against West Ham, he was playing for his Manchester City future, a visit to the last chance saloon.

    To see his name on the team sheet as a substitute was a surprise given he had not figured in the first four games of Pep Guardiola’s reign and had been expected to join Beskitas on loan before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.

    As an audition, he certainly captivated the audience and captured the attention of his manager – and not just with his appearance after arriving for pre-season training overweight.

    “His quality is on another level,” said Guardiola.

    In those closing minutes, it was a glimpse of the Nasri of old, the one who demanded the ball and looked to create chances and take them with intelligent runs and incisive passing. Twice he came close to scoring and unselfishly set up David Silva for a shot which struck the post.

    It was a reminder to Guardiola of Nasri’s ability, and prompted a message from the City boss that it is down to the Frenchman if he wants to stay and help the club fulfil their ambitions.

    With a system which encourages midfielders to be fluid, link quickly and become the attack, Nasri could thrive. He would also be a perfect option should David Silva, Nolito or Kevin De Bruyne need replacing through injury or form.

    Nasri has admittedly not always been at his best during his five years at the Etihad Stadium as injuries have taken their toll, and gained a ‘bad boy’ tag which could be debated.

    But he has worked hard to get back in shape recently and just wants to play. He has been upset and disappointed by the headlines of ‘fat Sam’, but if he can stay fit and accepts a fight for a starting spot, Guardiola should keep him, ahead of Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony as he looks to finalise his squad for the season ahead.

    Nasri offered a strong case in the 3-1 win against the Hammers and, four years younger than Toure at 29, could be better and wiser for working under the Catalan coach.

    Although it might not seem the case with Bony, Joe Hart or Eliaquim Mangala, Guardiola has shown he is willing to give players second chances and Nasri needs look no further than two of his team-mates to see how fortunes can change so quickly.

    For the past couple of seasons, Aleksandar Kolarov has looked to be on his way out with doubts about his defensive positioning marring enterprising forays forward. City have been linked with left-backs galore, but Guardiola has seen the versatility of the Serbian and how useful that could be to his squad and his new system.

    In a left-sided centre-back role, Kolarov looks accomplished and a welcome alternative while Vincent Kompany regains fitness, and Mangala and Jason Denayer could be moved on.

    Raheem Sterling is another to relish a fresh start after being strangely sidelined in the latter part of last season by Manuel Pellegrini and his confidence affected. Too often in English football, young players are built up and then unceremoniously knocked down without being given the opportunity or time to develop their skills and experience.

    At Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has a proven track record in harnessing young talent, turning wonderkids into world-beaters. It is why he has been eager to talk bullishly about Sterling’s qualities, to coax the best out of a player who can be as dazzling and devastating as he has been disappointing.

    Feeling loved and given a leading role in an attack fuelled by pace, the 21-year-old has been a revelation at the start of this campaign, clearly learning and improving with every game under arguably world football’s finest coaching guru.

    Guardiola is intent on making the team better and playing better. Not afraid to make difficult decisions, his changes may not be accepted by all, especially fans with a sense of loyalty to past heroes.

    But, on the evidence so far and five wins out of five for a team still taking shape, they could be for the better in the long term.

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