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Tuesday 4 February 2014

Inside the tunnel for the biggest game of the season: Warriors Kompany and Terry greet each other, watch the City captain's battle cry... and why did Eto'o square up to Yaya?

Manchester City's tunnel cam - before, during and after Monday night's defeat against Chelsea - offered a behind-the-scenes insight into Premier League football. 
There was respect, minor arguments and more than a touch of bravado in abundance at the Etihad Stadium. 
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the video - posted on the club's official website - was the relationship between captains Vincent Kompany and John Terry. 
VIDEO: Scroll down to watch the footage from inside the tunnel
Nice to see you! Vincent Kompany and John Terry shake hands before going into the referee's office
Nice to see you! Vincent Kompany and John Terry shake hands before going into the referee's office
No, after you: Terry and Kompany both try to allow each other into see Mike Dean first
No, after you: Terry and Kompany both try to allow each other into see Mike Dean first
Chat: The Manchester City captain delivers a quick pep talk to a group of players before their warm-up
Chat: The Manchester City captain delivers a quick pep talk to a group of players before their warm-up
Fifty-six minutes before kick-off, the pair - alongside coaches Brian Kidd and Steve Holland - had to report to referee Mike Dean's office. 
The protocol is to hand in teamsheets and listen to a brief on how Dean wants to officiate proceedings. 
After shaking hands they were summoned into the referee's office but were falling over each other to allow their fellow skipper through first. 
Come on! Yaya Toure is geed up by Kompany before going for his warm-up
Come on! Yaya Toure is geed up by Kompany before going for his warm-up
Big man: The skipper realised the importance of talking to his star team-mate
Big man: The skipper realised the importance of talking to his star team-mate
Kompany - as you might expect - features heavily in the video. His leader-of-men persona encapsulates the togetherness built at City since Manuel Pellegrini took over in the summer. 
Even before the warm-up, Kompany was the head of a six-pronged delegation, including Jesus Navas, Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, Matija Nastasic and Aleksandar Kolarov. Keep talking, get prepped. 
Yaya Toure joined later to be wound up by Kompany. The defender shook both of the Ivorian's arms to gee him up. Pumped up doesn't begin to cover it. 'Pride in Battle' is emblazoned above the tunnel entrance and something the Belgian strictly adheres to. 
What's up, lads? Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o square up in the tunnel
What's up, lads? Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o square up in the tunnel
Have mine! Toure and Eto'o chose to swap shirts at half-time
Have mine! Toure and Eto'o chose to swap shirts at half-time
What's going on? The pair were involved in a frank exchange in the tunnel at the break
What's going on? The pair were involved in a frank exchange in the tunnel at the break
Move out of my way! Amusingly, referee Dean was left stranded behind Toure and Eto'o
Move out of my way! Amusingly, referee Dean was left stranded behind Toure and Eto'o
Helping hand: Eto'o checks to see the state of Toure after a clash during City's home defeat
Helping hand: Eto'o checks to see the state of Toure after a clash during City's home defeat
The City stars also made a point of interacting with the club's mascots - Jose Mourinho rather amusingly giving his side's a huge pat on the back. 
At the break, with Chelsea one-up thanks to Branislav Ivanovic's thunderous drive, Samuel Eto'o seemed to cheekily rile Toure in a short exchange that only lasted a matter of seconds. 
It threatened to turn a little more serious at one stage, but the players know each other from their time at Barcelona and are arguably the two biggest stars in African football.
Toure laughed it off as they opted to swap shirts at half-time. With an arm around Eto'o's shoulder and chatting away, the City midfielder was held up traffic behind him.
Thump! Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Branislav Ivanovic's first half strike at the Etihad
Thump! Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Branislav Ivanovic's first half strike at the Etihad
Big result: Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were superb at the back and on the counter on Monday night
Big result: Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were superb at the back and on the counter on Monday night
Heated: The tunnel cam shows the sort of pressure Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho are under
Heated: The tunnel cam shows the sort of pressure Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho are under
Heated: The tunnel cam shows the sort of pressure Manuel Pellegrini (left) and Mourinho are under
Dean, looking bemused at his stoppage, stood still, shook his head before politely reminding the players: 'Lads, we've only got 15 minutes!' 
Those type of tunnel nuances bring the personalities involved in these titanic clashes to life. 
Pellegrini's pep talk given, Kompany's eyes focus directly down the tunnel. Nervous twitching of the hands, 'come on boys'. 
'Step it up, step it up.' 
They did, but not enough. 
 

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