New Delhi: They may be flying high domestically, but European competition is a different proposition altogether, as both the clubs from Manchester were reminded on Tuesday.
It was Manchester City's greatest European night since 1968, a night when the expensively-assembled squad was supposed to show their credentials and prove that they belong at the top level in European football. As it turned out, City, making only their fourth appearance in Europe in contrast to their opponent's 251st, were given a harsh lesson by a superior Bayern Munich side that merely highlighted how far City have to go before they can realistically challenge for Champions League glory.
Unfortunately for Roberto Mancini though, City's 2-0 defeat was the least of his worries on a night of intense drama. An already-forgettable match, with City trailing, took a turn for the worse in the second half when wantaway striker Carlos Tevez shockingly refused to come off the bench when asked. The unprecedented mutiny was enough to enrage the normally-placid Mancini, who furiously declared that Tevez's future at City was over.
There can be no justification for the Argentine's behaviour, but what the City manager must be most concerned about is the effect his former captain's actions will have on the overall spirit within the squad. The problem of gelling the stars in his squad into a team while managing their fractious egos is one Mancini is well-versed with, thanks to a certain Mario Balotelli. In fact, temperamental strikers appear to be the norm at the Eastlands - Edin Dzeko threw his own tantrum after being substituted in Munich, before Tevez took centre-stage.
It is inevitable that the Tevez issue will dominate the headlines, but Roberto Mancini will have to deal with the matter swiftly so as to restore his authority in the dressing room. Otherwise, this crisis can easily derail their otherwise impressive start to the season, which has seen City unbeaten in the Premier League and placed second, just behind Manchester United on goal difference.
The turmoil should also not divert attention from City's poor performance as they were outclassed by Bayern Munich, who are now unbeaten in ten games this season. Mancini will be worried at how easily Bayern dictated the tempo and dominated the midfield, as City struggled to deal with the German side's swift attacking play. The defence fell short time and again, while the potent strike force created little. The Italian must also question his own decisions of starting with such an attacking line-up away at the Allianz Arena, playing Kolo Toure who is still returning to match fitness or the defensive substitutions he made, even though they were necessitated by off-field matters.
As City now face the real danger of not qualifying from their Champions League group, Mancini's arguments that his team is inexperienced will cut no ice as almost every player on the team sheet has played in the tournament previously. He will also get little sympathy for his claims that the big-spending City need more midfielders, even though Gareth Barry and James Milner may not be good enough for the highest level in Europe. Yet no matter how many big players money can buy, they still need to play as a collective unit on the field. There is still much work to be done if City hope to win titles, and that will be the real challenge for Mancini ahead.
Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson will be grateful for once that the 'noisy neighbours' are hogging the spotlight, especially given that the problem involves Tevez, a player who acrimoniously departed Old Trafford to join their cross-town rivals in 2009. After all, it has taken the heat off Manchester United's own shaky performance in a surprisingly open game against the unfancied FC Basel.
Unlike City, strikers were not an issue for United, with Danny Welbeck keeping Dimitar Berbatov on the bench even in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Instead, it was at the back that the hosts showed an uncharacteristic weakness. In 37 years of management, Ferguson has never lost a game after being two goals up; but so shambolic was the defending that United came dangerously close to giving up that record before drawing 3-3.
It is true that the Premier League champions perhaps became complacent, having taken a 2-0 lead at home where they now are undefeated in 33 European games. They are also missing the reassuring presence of regular skipper Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling. However, United's unsettled defence has been put under pressure in previous games as well, and the results might well have been different if Chelsea, Stoke City and even Arsenal had taken their chances. Very unlike United, there was also a lack of concentration as several passes were misplaced all over the field. Certainly Rio Ferdinand looked well off the pace, while the 19-year-old Phil Jones displayed his inexperience by often being caught out of position and struggling to deal with crosses in the box.
United's free-flowing start to the season has ensured that their defensive shortcomings have not hurt them, yet the wily Ferguson will be well-aware that still tougher tests await in the long season ahead where such failings can be brutally exploited. The Red Devils will still qualify from their Champions League group and they are still the favourites for the league title, but there is room for improvement and that will provide hope to their rivals and hopefully, plenty of more entertaining games for the neutrals!
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