Chelsea 1 – 1 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS

A missed opportunity or signs that this title race may just be a little closer than everyone imagines? We won’t know the answer to that question until the end of the season, but reaction following this draw has been understandably mixed. This was a positive performance, pushing Chelsea onto the back foot and there was only ever likely to be one winner, but a lack of creativity that meant our attacks often petered out hampered City and a point was the fair result. Disappointing, perhaps, because it felt like City’s efforts and desire to win the game merited more than just a share of the spoils, but I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’d have taken a point before the game.

Chelsea’s form coming into the match was excellent, City’s decidedly not. And yet, with two of their most important players missing, the home side looked remarkably limited. They are a team who have been ruthless in sweeping aside inferior opposition, capable of matching physical strength with attacking grace, but without Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, they resorted to negative tactics, showed almost nothing offensively and were clinging on by the end. Chelsea have been unbelievably lucky throughout the whole season with regards to injuries, picking their sides from a core group of around fourteen players, yet if this is how meek and aimless they looked with two key players missing, it is tempting to wonder how the season might have panned out had they been without more of their star turns for longer.

Still, it should be noted that it was down to City’s relentless pressing and neat control of the game that Jose Mourinho’s man offered so little going forward. Fernando and Fernandinho reprised their roles against Roma, hustling and harrying, shielding and breaking, linking and probing. Jesus Navas had his most effective game in a while, doubling up against Eden Hazard when required and then providing a threat wide on the right with his pace. James Milner did what James Milner does: perform superbly in an important fixture, his movement off the wing so clever and dynamic. Make no mistake, this was a very strong City display. The only frustration is that there just wasn’t enough guile to break through a stubborn and compact Chelsea rearguard for a second time.

In the hour before the game, most of the discussion from a City perspective had been centred on the surprise selection of Bacary Sagna ahead of Pablo Zabaleta. Should it, however, have been that much of a surprise? I’m not so sure. Zabaleta is the finest attacking right-back in the country, so adept at timing his runs and making a genuine impact with his bursts from deep, yet against the very best wingers his tendency to commit himself to tackles does make him a touch vulnerable. Hazard has tormented Zabaleta in the past and it was noticeable how Sagna got the nod on both occasions this season in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, a team renowned for their movement and speed with the ball. So to see him chosen for yesterday’s battle was perfectly understandable.

And he more than justified Pellegrini’s faith. His goal was clear: to negate Hazard by staying tight, opposing him physically and matching him across the ground. That the Belgian’s influence was relatively limited owed a great deal to Sagna’s determination and skill. Yes, Hazard did provide the assist to Loic Remy, but only those actively looking for a scapegoat would pin the blame on Sagna. Otherwise, the winger was extremely quiet, nullified by Sagna and the ever-willing Navas. It was a bold call from Pellegrini, but one that was vindicated.

Indeed, Sagna’s cuteness in dealing with Hazard typified a slightly more streetwise approach from City. If he couldn’t quite get tight enough to nip in and pinch the ball, and Hazard was able to turn and run at the City backline, Sagna, along with Fernando and Fernandinho, were quite happy to cynically bring him and others to the ground. It’s not pretty and it’s perhaps not the type of play that fans want to see every week, but City are a soft team at times, all too nice and too reluctant to engage in the dirtier aspects of the game. No-one wants to see violent challenges or players aggressively surrounding referees, but in terms of in-play management and adding that element of nous to our game, what City to did Hazard, Oscar et al was refreshing to see.

This was a fixture that was located in must-not-lose territory rather than that of a must-win encounter, and City are still battling. There is plenty of work remaining, of course, but yesterday showed that we have the appetite to fight back once more.

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