Final preparation for the Everton game and it started at 4.25 on a hot afternoon. Me, 3 photographers plus a family who arrived at 4 but left as they started coming out (couldn't quite work that one out)
Mario and Yaya first out having a laugh together and the rest in small groups but good to see Tevez again plus Nigel back again as was Shay with the keepers after his game last night.Mancini had quite a long chat with Carlos and Carminati.Can only think it would have been about how much to extend himself in the training today. As usual on the last day of preparation it was part fun day in the work they did.Still plenty of warm up exercises and stretching but handball , switching between big nets and small ones and definitely not any serious competition to start with.
Yaya took it a little easy when the game was being played in the small nets and made himself goal minder, leaning on the bar repelling attacks easily. Mario kept himself nearest to the other pitch so that when the call came to switch across he was nearest thus first to the other ball and scoring a goal immediately.Then after a short drinks break they had a game on a half sized pitch.As often happens there was a little confusion with the rules of the game ( 2 touch in your own half and all in at the attacking end) and Joe Hart was shouting and laughing at Kiddo that it took 10 seconds before chaos happened.
Almost immediately after that Dzeko scored with a blinder of a volley which drew a round of applause from the coaches and some players I think. Joe never moved. Not too long after and a shot from Jo was parried but quickest to the rebound was Mario to fire high into the net.Then plenty of decent stuff as the competitive nature of them all came out and lots of questionning decisions.Some reasonable and others just instinctive and out of order.
For the 2nd day in a row an offside was given when the ball was played by the defending team to the opposition attack. Andy Welsh realised his error too late as Milner advanced on him. Joe Hart was having a laugh at this shouting " hit him Millie". SWP did brilliantly to get past Aleks ( as only SWP can when he looked to have lost the ball and was falling over) but Nigel came over to clean him up.Nigel didn't bother with the ball on this occasion but still protested his innocence ( only once though then the smile kicked in)
Great moment when Nigel had a shot which found row z and a few players seemed to suggest that just because he has scored now doesn't mean he should shoot from anywhere.AJ was chasing a ball with Dedryk in front of him and again Joe H was shouting something like "smash him AJ" Joe likes a bit of fun banter.The winning goal was a ball from Tevez to Dzeko who turned it goalwards and Milner finished it off to massive cries of offside which were rejected by Andy Welsh.
2.1 it fiinshed so no golden goal and as they went in just a few stayed out for a bit extra.Mancini told them just 5 minutes as they were leaving for the hotel at 6. (sounds like a mother shouting little Jimmy in for his tea :) Milner and Kolarov taking corners for Vinnie and AJ and Mario shooting from the edge of the box.
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