There is always the chance of the unexpected, as the scorer of the most legendary goal in a League Cup Final knows very well.
Dennis Tueart — he of the overhead kick which took Manchester City to their 2-1 victory over Newcastle in 1976 — was also in the Sunderland side that beat Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup Final, a fixture they entered 6-1 against in the betting.
“What interests me is that it’s a contrast of strategies — individual brilliance of four or five Manchester City players and then you’ve got the work ethic that Gus Poyet has brought to Sunderland,” said Tueart.
That is not the only pressure for City — even though Sergio Aguero appears to be winning his battle to recover from a hamstring injury to play, having returned to training this week.
They also carry with them the baggage of last year’s shock FA Cup Final defeat against Wigan — a burden if ever there was one. Nobody said City had to win even one trophy in Manuel Pellegrini’s first season.
Five in five years was the target laid out by chief executive Ferran Soriano last summer — but the team do find themselves attempting to demonstrate that they have moved on in a season when the incredible impression they have left on occasions, such as the 6-3 win over Arsenal, has not always translated into something longer lasting.
In the Premier League they had taken 56 points from 27 games this time last year; the number this year is 57 from 26.
Defeat to Poyet’s side, after the disappointing delivery in an unexpectedly defensive set-up against Barcelona, would enhance the sense that appearances have been deceptive.
Pellegrini will discover today whether UEFA will charge him over his rant against the Swedish referee in the Barcelona game.
It could prove to be a difficult weekend for him.
