Chronicle Editor
MANCHESTER City picked up where they left off and won their opening game of the new Premier League season 2-0 at Chelsea.
Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic scored one in each half to make it a winning start for Pep Guardiola’s men, who’ve now won 10 topflight games in a row and are searching for their fifth successive league title. It’s less of a case of continuity for new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who endured frustration in his first competitive match after a busy summer of signings.
Surprisingly, the Blues boss didn’t name a single new face in his starting line-up, but he eventually handed out multiple debuts from the bench. Their introductions didn’t change the tide, though, as City saw out the victory with typical ease.
Here are six talking points from Stamford Bridge.
1. Sterling makes statement after Chelsea snub
Raheem Sterling didn’t take his omission from Chelsea’s matchday squad so well, going public with his disappointment after the Blues’ team news was confirmed at 3:30pm. In an extraordinary move, Sterling’s representatives released a statement on behalf of the 29-year-old, who Enzo Maresca claimed was left out for “tactical” reasons.
It included a passage which read: “Given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity. As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.”
His future is now in the spotlight with just 12 days left of the summer transfer window.
2. Haaland haunts Blues again
They say pre-season friendlies are quickly forgotten once the proper stuff begins, but Chelsea’s players must be sick of the sight of Erling Haaland wheeling away in celebration. The City striker bagged a hat-trick when these sides faced each other in the USA last month and he opened the scoring on Sunday with a well-taken goal.
Profiting from a deft touch by Bernardo Silva, Haaland pounced on the ball in the box and clipped it the onrushing Robert Sanchez. Chelsea appealed for offside but the new semi-automated system quickly showed that the Norweigan marksman was in the clear, giving City a deserved but not comfortable lead at the break.
3. Savinho’s sparkling start
Right wing, No.26 — it was like Riyad Mahrez was back at City once Pep Guardiola swapped his wingers early in the first-half. On his first start since joining from sister club Girona this summer, Brazilian winger Savinho wasted no time in making an impact and set an exciting benchmark for future performances.
The 20-year-old created the most chances (three), completed the most dribbles (three) and won the most duels (five) up until the hour mark — even more impressive considering that he had to be subbed off at half-time after picking up a knock. Chelsea’s defence breathed a sigh of relief when Phil Foden replaced Savinho at the break and Ipswich Town will be hoping that the £30-million signing won’t be available next Saturday.
4. Maresca inheriting problem that plagued Pochettino
City may’ve had more possession and held control for the majority of the game, but it was Chelsea who had the lion’s share of clear-cut opportunities. Of course, Nicolas Jackson had a series of chances but couldn’t beat Ederson — except for when the Chelsea striker was offside.
Enzo Fernandez’s late runs into the box also carried a threat but Maresca’s men were, just like on many occasions under ex-manager Mauricio Pochettino, toothless. The Blues have been in the market for a new No.9, despite already bringing in Marc Guiu from Barcelona, and it’s clear to see why.
5. Sanchez error explains Chelsea’s goalkeeping concerns
It’s risky to say how many first-team goalkeepers Chelsea currently have on their books, as by the time you’re reading this that number may well’ve changed. It was Robert Sanchez who got the nod from Maresca for this game and had a relatively steady afternoon until Mateo Kovacic took aim from outside the penalty area.
Sanchez got a hand to the former Chelsea midfielder’s shot but his wrist was weak, allowing Kovacic to make it 2-0. The Croatian respectfully celebrated against his old club as Maresca no-doubt pondered giving the gloves to £20,7m signing Filip Jorgensen for the Blues’ next match. No wonder Chelsea are looking for a solution in goal.
6. Guardiola still the master
You’d struggle to find a coach who hasn’t been influenced by Guardiola these days but for Maresca, it’s much more personal. The Italian was part of the City boss’ coaching staff in the 2022-23 season before taking over at Leicester, where he won the Championship title and earned the position of Chelsea manager.
Although Maresca will’ve been pleased with how the Blues stayed in the game until Kovacic wrapped things up, his team are lightyears behind City in the grand scheme of things. Sunday’s trip to Wolves will be a more winnable game but first it’s a Conference League play-off first leg, hosting Swiss side Servette. — Mirror
Online Reporter