It does look a bit like him doesn’t it? No? Ah well, please yourselves. With Clichy one of the first to arrive, he was grabbed and taken pitchside while his team-mates were still arriving. That’ll teach him for being so fast. Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri arrive almost unnoticed...
There was more of a fan-fare for skipper Vincent Kompany - later to be lambasted by Everton boss David Moyes for a tackle on Tim Cahill. If there’s one player who would never set out to ‘do’ a fellow pro, it’s Kompany. Trust us.
With time ticking towards kick-off, two of the other boys in blue keep a watch on the clock with the lads due out at any second...
As ever, ‘the ghost’ - AKA David Silva, magically appears from nowhere to enter the changing rooms but not before shimmying past four security guards, selling a dummy to the chef and drifting past the waiting press with his usual style and grace.
Finally, Howard Webb proves David Moyes’ theory that the officials were aloof to his team and coaching staff during the soon-to-start match. Webb is clearly enjoying a laugh with Cahill prior to leading the teams out... unless he was saying, “Reet lad, tha knows this is the last time I’m going to chat with thee.”
Finally, as the teams do their handshakes prior to kick-off, it’s nice to see Roberto Mancini handing out the Fruit Pastilles. “I bet you can’t put one in your mouth without chewing it, Kiddo.”
“I’ll take you on, boss...”
Kiddo lost.
.
