Manchester City 1-3 Chelsea: 16 Conclusions

Matt Stead

* Oh my. In terms of an advert for the Premier League, one should look no further than this game. It had it all – goals, misses, tackles, red cards, poor refereeing, moments of team and individual excellence, moments of team and individual stupidity, and two of the best sides in the country combining to play out the most entertaining, high-quality game this league has seen in some time. Manchester City will feel aggrieved for a number of reasons, but they have only themselves to blame. Chelsea were perhaps fortunate, but displayed the characteristics which make them outright title favourites as we head into December. It really could have gone either way, such was the level of talent on show, but there is no denying the sheer brilliance of this fixture.

 

* Jamie Redknapp dubbed it “the most attacking line-up in Premier League history”, and while that seemed a rather exaggerated assessment of Manchester City’s starting XI, it was undeniably a surprising approach from Pep Guardiola. Some managers prioritise solidity and defence in games of such magnitude, valuing the importance of not losing to an elite rival as opposed to beating them. This was a statement.

But, as ever, it was difficult to make much sense of the line-up at first. The common consensus before kick-off was that City’s formation would be 3-4-2-1, with Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan shielding the defence, Jesus Navas and Leroy Sane providing width, and Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva forming a lovely attacking triumvirate with Sergio Aguero. Within minutes, it became clear that City would match the 3-4-3 system their opponents had mastered over the past couple of months. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you might as well copy off the Premier League leaders.

 

* As for Chelsea, this fixture provided the biggest test yet not only of their title credentials, but of their lauded formation. Antonio Conte made a change to his starting line-up for the first time in six games, as an injury to Nemanja Matic forced his hand. In would come Cesc Fabregas for only his second start of the season. The Spaniard’s last league appearance had ended with a second-half substitution in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in September.

Conte’s system has rightfully received plaudits so far this season, but this would prove whether it was interchangeable and adaptive. Could such a crucial player as Matic be replaced by an individual with a much different skill set? Even the slightest alteration could threaten a seven-game winning run, particularly against such strong opposition.

The respective starting line-ups did reveal a stark contrast between these two sides. Including the six made on Saturday afternoon, City have now changed their starting line-up 46 different times in 14 league games, and have named a different XI in each of their 23 games in all competitions. Chelsea have now made just eight changes. Conte has found his most effective side and system; Guardiola is still searching after five months.

 

* For those who thought this game would be defined by trepidation and anxiety, evidence to the contrary was provided almost instantly. Within two minutes, Eden Hazard was left in a heap on the ground after a strong challenge from Fernandinho. The Belgian then had a shot blocked, City had calls for a penalty correctly turned down after Gary Cahill’s unintentional handball in the area, John Stones was caught in possession by Diego Costa, whose subsequent cutback was poor, and Hazard shaved the post with a curling effort from outside the box from a Pedro lay-off, all within the first 15 minutes. It was a fast-paced, frenetic start from both sides.

This season has been no different to any other in that, when two title contenders meet, both proceed with so much caution that it ultimately diminishes the quality of the game. The build-up to Manchester United’s September trip to Anfield did not match the underwhelming nature of the 0-0 draw, while November’s north London derby petered out into a disappointing stalemate. Not so here, as the opening 15 minutes would set the precedent for a thoroughly entertaining and absorbing game. It was a true delight to watch.

 

* Manchester City versus Chelsea might not evoke the same emotions as a Merseyside derby or boast the same rich history as clashes between Arsenal and Manchester United, but the importance of this game translated perfectly onto the pitch. From the animated managers to the motivated players to the passionate crowd, the atmosphere was electric, adding another layer to an engrossing encounter.

Stuck in the middle of it all was Anthony Taylor. After just two minutes, the referee was called into action as Fernandinho clattered into Hazard. That set the marker, as Kante, Kevin De Bruyne and Aleksandar Kolarov all left their marks on an opponent soon after. The result was the same each time: Taylor did not deem any challenge worth a booking. He was similarly unmoved when first Sergio Aguero and then Victor Moses were left grounded by strong tackles, as the volume in the Etihad increased, both sides feeling as though they had been cheated.

City’s protests only intensified when Nicolas Otamendi became the first player to be booked, the Argentinean having left his foot in after a sliding tackle on Diego Costa. Some questioned the decision – one Manchester-based journalist played the role of your dad in the pub perfectly by stating ‘If challenges like that one from Otamendi are deemed a yellow, we all need to pack up and start playing netball’ – but it was the right call. The tackle was unnecessarily dangerous and aggressive, but only because Taylor had already lost control of the game. We would not realise the true consequence of that until much later on.

 

* Twenty-five minutes in, and the ball was in the net. A delicious delivery from De Bruyne – not the first, and most certainly not the last of the game – was nodded in by Fernandinho. The Brazilian was offside however, and the goal was ruled out.

Within a minute, Chelsea should have taken the lead. Hazard burst forward down the left-hand side. Claudio Bravo rushed out of his goal, jumping at the Belgian, who simply tapped the ball away from him. He was then left with an open goal from around ten yards out, but inexplicably attempted to cut the ball back to Diego Costa instead of taking the opportunity himself.

Hazard was clearly trying to take the option which would maximise the chances of Chelsea taking the lead, but it was the wrong decision. While he was at an angle, there was no City defender within three or four yards, and a well-placed effort would have beaten John Stones, who was tracking back. Costa was behind four defenders, and even a perfectly-placed pass would have struggled to find him. It does not happen very often, and has barely happened at all this season, but the 25-year-old’s decision-making left a lot to be desired.

 

* If City fans and players felt aggrieved in the early stages, with Taylor having turned down one penalty call and overlooked a number of strong tackles, their persecution complex only heightened after 30 minutes.

A long ball over the top of the Chelsea defence was marshalled by both Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz, with the former attempting to avert danger by playing the ball back to Thibaut Courtois. The Spaniard’s pass was short however, and Aguero spotted an opportunity. If he could squeeze between both defenders, he would have a chance one-on-one.

Within an instant, Luiz stepped across him. The Brazilian made only the slightest contact with the City striker, but it was enough to unbalance anyone running at full pace. Taylor, already cast as the villain, played his role perfectly, ignoring protests and allowing Chelsea to play on.

Had Luiz been penalised – and he should have been – he would surely have been sent off as the last defender. Did that influence Taylor’s decision? It’s impossible to say. But for a player whose intelligence has been scrutinised and mocked over his years in the Premier League, it was a smart, well-disguised foul.

 

* Alongside Luiz was Gary Cahill, who appeared to be playing the game half an hour behind everyone else. The Blues captain was lethargic and exposed by a fast, direct City attack. It felt as though he was playing on a constantly buffering stream, always slow to react, always susceptible.

It was no surprise that City’s deserved opener, which came after a period of sustained pressure, was the result of a Cahill mistake. Jesus Navas broke down the right-hand side before driving in a low cross, with the England international first in position to clear. But the 30-year-old, refusing to use his weaker foot, managed to skew the ball into the top corner past a dumbfounded Courtois. Marcos Alonso was equally culpable, pulled out of position by Aguero, but Cahill’s error was the most costly.

Those expecting an improvement in the second half would have been disappointed within just nine minutes, as an Alonso back pass was greeted by a prone Cahill, standing still as both he and his keeper failed to take responsibility. Aguero nipped in, and Cahill finally lurched into action to clear his effort off the line.

It feels harsh to criticise a man who has just captained his side to an eighth successive league win, but the general feeling is that this Chelsea system is designed to mask the deficiencies of a limited player. He made just one tackle, two clearances and no interceptions throughout, compared to no tackles, six clearances and one interception by Luiz, and three tackles, three clearances and two interceptions from Azpilicueta. If this imposing Chelsea defence has a weakness, it is clear where.

 

* City had identified Chelsea’s problem area, too. In the first half, 54.8% of their attacks came down the visitors’ left-hand side, with Cahill and Alonso enduring difficult afternoons. Just 19.6% of City’s attacks came straight down the middle, with Guardiola keen to maximise the effect of De Bruyne’s wonderful delivery. The Belgian created five goalscoring opportunities all afternoon, each a result of his excellent movement and ability to stretch the defence. He made 15 crosses all game; all 14 of Chelsea’s players made just nine.

What cost the 25-year-old was his finishing – something which can be said for City as a whole. He had two shots all game. The first was a comfortable save for former teammate Courtois after a rare incisive run from Leroy Sane. The second was the moment which turned the game. A penetrating move from City culminated in a Navas cross, with De Bruyne unmarked at the back post. Perhaps put off by Azpilicueta’s attempts to block the delivery, the Belgian somehow hit the crossbar from just six yards out. Such games are defined by such moments, and it would not take long for City and De Bruyne to realise.

 

* For 59 minutes, Fabregas was almost anonymous. As Conte must have feared, the Spaniard understandably failed to replicate the physicality and pressure Matic provides in the midfield, and Chelsea were overrun at times as a result.

It cannot be underplayed just how different Chelsea were with Fabregas in midfield. The 29-year-old ran further than any player (12.66km), but recorded the fewest sprints of any starter by far (33). Conte demands that his midfielders bring energy, drive and intensity, but that simply is not Fabregas’ game. And so N’Golo Kante was charged with completing the defensive work of two midfielders. He made 76 sprints – more than any player except for Hazard (77) – made three tackles, completed three interceptions and won possession on more occasions than any other player (nine).

But just as Matic is the better tackler, Fabregas possesses far superior ability with the ball. Which is why Guardiola will be dismayed at the lack of pressure applied by his forwards as he received the ball just behind the halfway line. Even the City boss could not have foreseen his compatriot’s next move however. The Chelsea midfielder launched an inch-perfect 60-yard pass directly into the path of Costa, who had been similarly quiet. The forward controlled the ball on his chest, held off Otamendi as if he were an irritating child, and swept the ball past Bravo. His eleventh goal of the season had drawn Chelsea level, yet Fabregas was the catalyst.

Along with the brilliance of Hazard, it was quite something to see Chelsea’s three rats from last season combine to provide their crowning victory of this campaign so far.

 

* Suddenly, the game had turned. City were in the ascendancy for most of the first half and the start of the second, but the pendulum had swung. Having trailed after 59 minutes, they were ahead by the 70th.

That it started with a City attack will infuriate Guardiola further. Navas broke into the area before cutting the ball back, but with no teammate in sight, Alonso cleared to Fabregas, who passed to Hazard. The Belgian played the ball into Costa who, clearly unsatisfied with having bullied Otamendi ten minutes earlier, took it upon himself to complete the embarrassment of the lacklustre Argentinean by dragging him out of position to the halfway line, turning, and sliding a through ball into Willian. The Brazilian applied the finish, and the comeback was complete.

From Navas’ run to Willian’s finish, just 11 seconds had lapsed. In that brief period of time, Chelsea staged the absolute destruction of a City defence which simply is not good enough. Otamendi, Stones and Kolarov were left red-faced on more than one occasion, and as much as their neighbours are intent on strengthening their defence in January, City’s need for improvement is much more pressing than United’s.

 

* The question marks have followed him since his arrival in the Premier League, and this was no display to dispel fears that Bravo is simply not good enough for City. Keepers are supposed to promote confidence among their defence, but the Chilean looks panicked and unsettled, just like the individuals in front of him.

While the 33-year-old might have been taken by surprise by Costa’s finish, there was no such excuse with Willian’s goal. Chelsea’s counter-attack had been rapid, but the keeper had every opportunity to choose his position, set himself and minimise the chances of conceding. But Bravo never looked settled or confident as the winger bore down on goal, and he did not even make an attempt to save a Willian shot that was hardly placed in the corner.

Guardiola’s reasons for replacing Joe Hart in the summer were obvious. Not only did the Englishman not suit his system, but the new manager was keen to prove a point to his squad. But a passing accuracy of 68.8% means little for a goalkeeper when they make basic mistakes and fail to save simple shots. City had five shots on target, scoring one. Chelsea had four shots on target; they scored three.

 

* Once Hazard had sealed City’s fate, latching onto an Alonso punt upfield, racing past Kolarov and finishing past Bravo, the damage was done. Chelsea had landed the hammer blow, sealed an eighth successive win, and opened up a four-point gap at the top.

It is easy to forget they were 1-0 down at half-time, having been completely outperformed. The Blues completed just 73.6% of their passes by the break – their lowest passing accuracy in a Premier League game this season. They struggled to cope with De Bruyne’s movement, and benefited from an unusually poor Aguero. The midfield battle had also been lost, and Cahill’s own goal had handed City a deserved lead.

The improvement in the second half is a credit to the players, but Conte once again showed that he is not only one of the finest coaches in the game, but also one of the best managers. Just last week it seemed as though Tottenham had the better of them, before a second-half rejuvenation secured three points. It was the same case here, as Conte’s words at the break had the desired effect. The Blues were happy to cede possession, having 34.6% of the ball after half-time, but the subtle change to rely on counter-attacks proved the difference.

 

* It seemed as though the entertainment was over as Hazard doubled Chelsea’s advantage in stoppage time, but not so. Taylor’s failure to impose his authority on the game, coupled with an implosion from City, compounded the misery for the hosts.

An afternoon in which he had six shots but failed to score had clearly raised the frustration levels of Aguero, who sought revenge on Luiz for his first-half shenanigans. The striker launched into a terrible, knee-high lunge on the Brazilian, and a comedic melee ensued after he was shown a red card. The scenes that followed saw Fernandinho push Fabregas over the advertising hoardings – he was dismissed – and substitute Nathaniel Chalobah launched himself into the fight. Costa was peacemaker, as if it was not all surreal enough.

This defeat will hurt City, but their actions in stoppage time could well have a lasting effect. It was the first true outpouring of emotion from a side so used to having things their own way, to dominating and winning games. Beaten in front of their own fans, frustration manifested itself in a terrible tackle and a moment of petulance. Aguero and Fernandinho will be missed during their bans, but this was the first sign of mental weakness from City this season.

 

* It’s worth examining the contrast between Aguero and Costa. The league’s two highest goalscorers heading into the game, many would have expected one to antagonise and the other to amaze. That it was Costa whose brilliance shone through while Aguero lost his cool was the surprise.

That City’s periods of dominance were not capitalised upon is something Aguero must take the blame for. He had six shots yet failed to score, and he did not create a single goalscoring chance for a teammate. His sending-off was the culmination of a terrible afternoon.

Costa was his polar opposite. The Spaniard had every reason to be frustrated, having been isolated for much of the match. He had 12 touches in the first half – the fewest of any player. But he was the consummate professional, not only taking his goal well, but bringing his teammates into the game. He scored one goal, assisted another, had two shots and created two goalscoring chances. His transformation has been quite incredible, and the league’s best centre-forward had the advantage over the league’s best striker on this occasion.

 

* Klopp bested Wenger and Conte. Wenger bested Mourinho and Conte. Mourinho bested Klopp. Pochettino bested Wenger and Guardiola. Guardiola bested Mourinho. And now Conte has bested Guardiola, Pochettino and Mourinho. In this Premier League of managerial heavyweights, the Italian has landed the most punches thus far. The fight is not even nearly over, but it makes for bloody brilliant viewing for everyone else.

 

Matt Stead