CHRISTOPHER Samba put a spin on the old Beatles hit when he warned big spenders Manchester City that “money can’t buy you team spirit”.
But while you could not fault Samba’s heroic display for Blackburn, his post-match claim was misplaced. It was not team spirit City were lacking in this draw; it was the cutting edge to beat a defiant defence.
Maybe Samba was still on an adrenaline rush for denying substitute Jo what looked a certain winner when he said: “You know what is happening at City with them spending big money, but football is about more than that.
“To attract the best players they have to pay the big wages, but team spirit is something you can’t buy.” There was plenty of desire from City but, as James Milner admitted, with so many new players they are still getting to know each other.
Certainly Joe Hart and Kolo Toure need some communication lessons after the cock-up that gifted Nikola Kalinic his 25th-minute goal. Milner said: “It takes time to get on the same wavelength as each other, so we have yet to show our best football.”
As if to compound Hart’s misery, Paul Robinson proceeded to pull off a string of saves to underline that his retirement from the international scene is Fabio Capello’s loss. But Mancini was more angry with City’s wastefulness in front of goal, as they failed to add to Patrick Vieira’s 55th-minute equaliser.
“In the past teams have come here to win; now they come to. But we should have scored more,” he said.