Here, City’s world class duo, David Silva and Sergio Aguero led by example, but natural width on both flanks troubled a fairly open Chelsea outfit. Chelsea appeared to take their usual reactive approach with the inclusion of Ramires, but the Brazilian operated on the right flank, as Jose Mourinho preferred Cesc Fabregas’ creativity in a deeper midfield role.
Chelsea’s dependence on Fabregas’ passing was illustrated in the Blues’ Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, but similar to opponent, and former Barcelona player Yaya Toure, the Spaniard’s poor tactical discipline was at risk of leaving too much space vacant between the lines. More so, it took City less than a minute to exploit Chelsea’s issue.
Silva easily drifted past Fabregas near the halfway line before playing a stunning pass behind Chelsea’s centre-backs for Aguero, but Asmir Begovic’s save prevented a nightmarish start for the Blues. While Silva and Aguero’s threat was evident — the Spaniard searches for pockets of space between the lines, and Aguero darts off the last shoulder of the defence — Gary Cahill afforded the latter too much space in the final third, forcing Begovic to make two key saves, whilst bamboozling the England international for the winner.
“The first half we played really well and it was down to [Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir] Begovic that we didn’t score more, but it was important to get a clean sheet, and to play in the way we did, especially against the champions,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
“I think we always dominate against Chelsea, but we didn’t give them any chances on the counter attack and we made complete work of our chances.”
Although Nemanja Matic couldn’t solely negate Silva’s influence from open play, Pellegrini’s wide players deserve an equal amount of credit for their displays, whilst simultaneously negating Chelsea’s dynamic stars. Raheem Sterling’s movement into central areas enabled Aleksandar Kolarov to surge forward and deliver devastating crosses into the box. Sterling occasionally isolated Ivanovic in 1v1 situations as well, forcing the Serbian into a cynical second half booking.
On the opposite flank, Jesus Navas may have failed to dominate compatriot, Cesar Azpilicueta, but he willingly protected full-back Bacary Sagna against Eden Hazard. The Belgian continuously drifted into central areas to receive the ball, and from a defensive viewpoint, Sagna proved a better option than Pablo Zabaleta, limiting the Chelsea wide-man’s threat from the left.
Courtesy of Fabregas’ passing, Chelsea found it easier to play through midfield, but their overall buildup play was laboured. Willian, the away side’s best performer in an identical setup two weeks ago, easily conceded possession on several occasions, whereas Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala’s physicality flustered Diego Costa.
Costa, however, forced both City centre-backs into silly fouls — Kompany was rightly booked — when he charged into the channels to receive possession, yet his reluctance to shoot around the box was frustrating. Likewise, while Hazard wasn’t at his influential best his link up play with Costa was positive, and the stop-start nature of the second half led to a brief Chelsea resurgence, involving Hazard’s best moments.
First, Hazard clipped a sumptuous ball over the City defence, which Ramires subsequently tapped in, but the linesman ruled the Brazilian offside. Chelsea’s best chance of the match was inspired by the Belgian’s lightning quick break involving Costa, but Joe Hart’s key save thwarted a potential fightback.
“They were the best team in the first half. They controlled the game and create chances. We were comfortable with the ball but defensively we were quite fragile,” Mourinho said.
“In the second half, everything changed. We brought our defensive line to the midfield line. We pressed them and we created chances. We had lots of space in midfield.”
Nevertheless, City’s lack of discipline in central areas was partially responsible for Chelsea’s threat in the second half, explaining Pellegrini’s decision to introduce Martin Demichelis for cover. However, two defensive mistakes from Ivanovic ensured City recorded an emphatic result that was justified based on their first half superiority..
Despite the expected uncertainty in central areas, City’s wide players were efficient, whilst their star performers convincingly won their individual battles, in what proved to be an impressive all-round display.
