English football title defences aren't easy, as Man City are learning again

Sir Alex Ferguson was a master motivator who always kept his players' competitive fires burning, sometimes with some slightly devious tactics. The big question, perhaps, was why this type of vigour hadn't been seen in Manchester City earlier. Last Saturday, the defending champions seemed so energised by Chelsea's 1-1 slip to Burnley that they immediately tore into Newcastle United, dismissing them 5-0. Afterwards, Vincent Kompany made some proclamations, but they weren't necessarily all that persuasive, despite what had just happened. "Our team has been proving our determination in recent years," the City captain said. "That's one... http://ift.tt/1Dy8y4g