Thirteen months after Samir Nasri’s previous Premier League start he ended as game-winner, standout performer and with a message for Pep Guardiola that, if wanted, Manchester City’s incoming coach is a “lucky man” to have a player ravenous to prove his worth.
Before the thigh injury that had ruled out Nasri since the 5-1 win against Bournemouth on 17 October, the Frenchman had faded from the first-team picture. He was again a replacement that day and the sense was of a footballer whose shining talent should make him an A-lister but who would depart City having disappointed.
The caveat here is that Nasri has the technical and creative abilities that Guardiola loves to harness. Witnessing the way the 28-year-old operated as an all-action de facto No10 against West Bromwich Albion, popping up in defence and on hand to hit City’s 66th-minute winner suggests Guardiola may consider giving Nasri a chance.
But, when it was put to him, the Frenchman said: “I don’t know because you never know. Maybe he comes with his [own] ideas and stuff. I played against him in the past, he had some praise for me but I think that was like five years ago now [when at Arsenal]. That is one thing.
“When the pre-season is going to start I am going to be fresh so I hope that will help me and I will try to perform because when you have been out for so long you are more hungry when you come back. You don’t want to waste your time. You want to be back with a bang. If I stay working with Pep Guardiola, if he wants me, he’s just going to be a lucky man because I will be really hungry.
“I am the type of player for his philosophy and the way he likes his team to play so we are just going to see and on the first day of pre-season I will have a chat with him because I am going to be really hungry.”
This desire was City’s gain in a match they had to win, as Nasri ghosted into the area to beat Ben Foster to complete a victory that ensures no slip in the chase for a Champions League berth.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side started by conceding a soft Stéphane Sessègnon goal. Only six minutes were complete when the paper-thin home defence allowed the forward to collect the ball in space inside the area. Joe Hart compounded the complacency by freezing as the ball sailed passed him on his near post.
From this juncture City chugged along unconvincingly even after Sergio Agüero’s 19th-minute penalty. What helped Nasri change the contest was the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Touré on the hour.
Instantly City were a vintage one-touch side whose devilry West Brom could not contain. Nasri’s finish followed a deft De Bruyne pass that split Tony Pulis’s side open and by the end City fully deserved the victory.
As does Nasri deserve credit for the display, one that is particularly satisfying after a lonely six months. When the season ends he plans no holiday. “I had a break for six months,” he said. “Trust me I travelled, did everything because I needed to clear my mind for sure, when you have all of this. When you come to the dressing room and hear all the guys talking about starting in this game and that game and you think: ‘When am I going to play?’ It’s too hard for the head. So I’ve had enough of a break and am just going to go in hard. I just want to play.
“I went everywhere. I’ve been in Dubai, America and, when I was close to return, I’ve been in Italy to do a detox. I’ve been in France also with the family because I needed people around me who care. Mentally it’s been really hard.”
Now he is back and Guardiola may take note.