Double Acts: Benarbia on Berkovic partnership | OneFootball

Today we continue our feature series looking at memorable City pairings.

In this second edition, Ali Benarbia discusses and assesses his impressive partnership with Eyal Berkovic, who celebrates his birthday today.

Can you talk about Eyal Berkovic as a player?

Eyal had technical ease and an exceptional vision of the game.

He knew how to move, was very intelligent and used his cleverness to avoid contact with defensive midfielders or defenders – ensuring he was always in the right place at the right time.

Having this game astuteness, movement, ball control and finishing ability made it much easier for me as I preferred to play with a player who was skilful and intelligent.

What was Eyal’s greatest strength on the field?

It was his vision.

Having that vision and also touch at a precise moment - to switch play to a player on the wing or to find the striker or just spot the right pass, that was his strength.

Do you have a particular memory with Eyal that stands out?

There’s a wonderful one I remember.

Everyone was saying: ‘Manchester City, they’re top of the Championship, beating everyone, scoring a lot of goals… it’s all good because it’s in the Championship.’

So we faced Premier League side Ipswich Town away in the FA Cup and it was live on the BBC, everyone was watching and we won 4-1.

This particular memory, I took a corner, I sent the ball straight to Eyal, who was all alone at the 18-yard box.

I told him before: ‘Position yourself there, don’t move.’ He hit a volley into the top corner. It was the best moment I had with Eyal.

Why did your partnership with Eyal work so well on the field?

I think in the beginning, when Eyal saw me arrive, he was the only playmaker and probably didn’t understand why they were bringing me in.

But, after three games, he saw what I could do as a playmaker.

I think at first, he thought I was a replacement or a competitor for him.

But gradually, he - and Kevin Keegan - understood that we were very complementary, and the level of the team improved as a result.

The young Shaun Wright-Phillips followed too. And then we had three players who had great creativity and could confuse the opponent.

That was a real joy. It allowed the strikers to get even more chances to finish.

Looking back on that period of your career, how do you see it now?

I had the chance, at 33, to live two exceptional years to bring Manchester City to its right place in the Premier League.

Kevin Keegan wanted us in the top six. We were ninth in that first season back in the Premier League so I wasn’t far off. Maybe I needed another year.

But those moments I spent with all those players for two years, I have nothing but good memories. It was an absolute pleasure. I fell in love with Manchester City. And the fans.