MAN CITY 3 – 0 Chelsea – MY THOUGHTS
17 Aug
What a match! Against a club, players and manager who seem to take pleasure in making themselves appear as reprehensible as possible, City produced a near perfect display to glide to three goals, three points and a thoroughly deserved victory.
Commanding at the back, controlling in midfield and reassuringly slick further forward, this was the kind of performance that we routinely expect from this collection of seriously talented City stars. It was rarely forthcoming last season in a campaign characterised by plodding football and flat disappointment, but the signs so far this time around are positive in the extreme.
Admittedly, two games, as impressive as they have been, are hardly irrefutable evidence of a resurgent side – but perhaps more notable to me than the waves of City attacks and the dominance we exerted over what many believe to be the strongest side in the league were two separate moments that offer an insight into the players’ mentality this season.
The first came seconds after the half-time whistle. Fernandinho had been embroiled in some niggle with perennial niggler Diego Costa, and as the striker chased after City’s Brazilian as the players left the pitch, he would find his path blocked. Aside from a couple of Chelsea members of staff who did their best to restrain the loose cannon, Costa encountered Vincent Kompany in his way.
City’s captain is the real leader of this group, whether in good form or not. And there he was, looking out for his teammate and shielding him from Costa’s frothing anger. Then in stormed the hulking presence of Eliaquim Mangala, placing his arm round Fernandinho and guiding him calmly towards the tunnel. It was a minor detail, barely even a footnote in game which had far more appealing storylines, but as City’s two colossal centre-backs protected their wafery midfielder, it was hard to escape the feeling that this side have rediscovered a togetherness and steel that will carry them to success.
Backing up that point was David Silva. Known rightfully for his classy elegance, there is an often-overlooked feistiness to Silva’s play: a genuine willingness to battle for the cause and put himself about. That side to him was perfectly encapsulated by City’s third and killer goal.
Back on his own defensive byline, full of hassle and fight, Silva pinched the ball off Eden Hazard and started a counter-attack. Not content with that piece of defensive awareness and pragmatism, however, Silva burst up the other end of the pitch and as Chelsea cleared City’s first wave, there he was to bully Branislav Ivanovic and win the ball back. A lucky rebound saw the ball squirm to Fernandinho, but there was nothing lucky about his finish: drilled with swag into the corner to seal victory. When your diminutive playmaker is charging into tackles – and winning them – against Chelsea’s brute of a defender, you know something is right.
That was the real story of the day. I could write at great length about City’s all-round showing: the solidity of the centre-backs, the dominance of our regularly-criticised full-backs, Fernandinho’s energy, Sterling’s pace, Aguero’s quality and so on. Yet it seems almost churlish to single out individuals when what stood out to me was the team as a collective.
Gone was last season’s individuality. What we saw was the players fighting for each other and playing with a rugged resolve and hunger – not to mention a fair splash of quality – that filled the stadium with positivity. Whatever was missing last year appears to have returned. I have a feeling this season will be a lot of fun.
good piece mate and a good start to the season.hopefully we stay grounded and if so our class will prevail.
Manchester Blue had an all round performance and were rewarded dutifully for their effort.
That’s an impressive write up which (unlike some professional Journo’s awful reports we see daily) actually summed up perfectly the team ethic presently on display, well said! On a final note …. the rumour this morning that yesterday’s result was “fake” has been countered by Manuel who has this morning given the fake 3 points back to Chelsea….obviously these are a fake as well
Good points pal, you’re right it’s the little things that give us an insight into how things are going. Look at the other end of the spectrum and you see Jose setting up with a defensive unit (or trying to) again, and his target man spending 90 minutes complaining, huffing, puffing, shouting and basically whining to anyone who will listen.
CTID!
A word on Chelsea. The physical and psychological stress of winning the Premiership seems to have taken its toll, just as with City last season. No doubt in my mind though, that they’ll remain our chief rivals for the title. But a fine performance from City with some much improved dead ball play. Great to watch.
Can the author predict another 1-1 draw against Everton?
What a change from last year – we’ve scored from corners in two games!
Beautiful football & an all round near perfect game,the sheen was taken off a great result for me with the startling & jaw dropping news that mangala is going to Valencia on loan, the lad has all the tools to be the world’s premier center half’ is there any truth in this manure???
And Pellers seems to have got the formation right. Also no need for useless possession based style with no penetration. Sit back, defend well, win the ball and hit them fast.
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