The Fiver | Thinking about running very fast at John Stones from different angles

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Manchester City have had an ambivalent relationship with Big Cup from the get-go. In 1968, Malcolm Allison announced City’s arrival on the continental stage with the smooth silver-tongued diplomacy for which he was long renowned. “I think a lot of these foreign people are cowards,” began what appeared to be a thick cloud of cigar smoke sporting an informally angled hat. “They play with a fear of defeat. I promise you that City will attack these people as they haven’t been attacked since the old Real Madrid!” Sure enough, City went out in the first round to Fenerbahce, and didn’t appear in the competition again for another 43 years. Oh Big Mal! How could you?

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