Jose Mourinho hoi kwa Manchester City apigwa bao 3-0
Sergio
Aguero, magnificent. David Silva, stunning. Yaya Toure, immense. Yet
that defence… Chelsea. There really is no other word for it. They were
Chelsea-like in their resilience. Manchester City are the team to beat
this season, make no mistake of that.
Yes
it is early. Long way to go, all the usual clichés. But this was a
performance that made a powerful statement about the way City have
grown.
It
is more than the addition of Raheem Sterling to the team. He worked
hard and adds a threat, but it still finding his feet after the move
from Liverpool. This is about the rest of them: players who were here
last season, but strangely ineffectual.
Toure,
engaged again – Eliaquim Mangala and Vincent Kompany, refusing to be
bullied by Diego Costa. Fernandinho, looking the best he has since
powering Shakhtar Donetsk Aleksandar Kolarov, arguably the best
left-back in the Premier League right now. We knew City could attack,
but could they defend. This was a match that revealed a new depth to
this side.
Sergio Aguero shows off his club badge
as the Argentine marks his return to Manchester City's line-up with a
slick finish against Chelsea
City captain Vincent Kompany celebrates as he doubles their lead with a trademark header in the 79th minute
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
MANCHESTER CITY: Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Kompany, Kolarov, Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling, Aguero
Substitutes: Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Nasri, Demichelis, Bony, Iheanacho
Booked: Kompany, Fernandinho
Goal: Aguero 34, Kompany, Fernandinho
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Matic, Willian, Fabregas, Hazard, Diego Costa
Subs: Blackman, Zouma, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Falcao, Remy
Referee: Martin Atkinso
Some sublime
passing led to Sergio Aguero's opener with his fifth attempt of the
match, as illustrated by Sportsmail's Match Zone - CLICK HERE for more brilliant statistics and graphics
They
were not flattered by a three-goal winning margin; if anything Chelsea
were the fortunate ones. Asmir Begovic kept them in touch in the
first-half and just when they were beginning to threaten on the
counter-attack, Kompany finished them off. It was a David Silva corner
from the left that did the damage, Kompany all over Branislav Ivanovic,
flicking a header past Begovic to put the result beyond doubt. Chelsea
may claim their man was fouled, but there is so much wrestling in the
penalty area these days – and Ivanovic is such a master of it – that it
is hard to feel much sympathy.
After
his shocker against Jefferson Montero of Swansea last week, Ivanovic’s
confidence looks shot. He was poor for the third too, slow to react to
the advancing Silva and dispossessed, the ball flying to Fernandinho,
who finished it smartly. This was as emphatic a defeat as Mourinho has
ever suffered against major opponents in the Premier League. He knows
how to keep it tight, he is a man with a plan. Here, Chelsea had no
answer. Diego Costa was belligerent, but little more, expertly
marshalled and crowded out by City’s backs. Eden Hazard too. John Terry
was taken off at half-time with a thigh strain and a badly bruised ego.
He usually finds a way against quicker men like Aguero; yesterday there
was none. Hatchet faced on the sideline, Mourinho seemed to know it,
too. Is there a doctor in the house?
Aguero breaks clear in the opening minute and despite pressure from Gary Cahill will be disappointed to have not beaten Begovic
Begovic is called into action again in
the eventful opening stages after starting in place of suspended
first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois
Branislav Ivanovic (left) dispossesses Raheem Sterling as the Chelsea defence is peppered by a speedy Manchester City attack
Chelsea's Ramires and Diego Costa fall to the ground as City's Fernandinho and Vincent Kompany look on in the first half
David Silva shows his agility as he looks to bring down the bouncing ball under the attention of Ivanovic on Sunday
Manchester City's Bacary Sagna goes down underneath Chelsea's Eden Hazard during a physical first stanza at the Etihad
Aguero gives credit where it's due and applauds Begovic after yet another first-half save from the former Stoke City stopper
Sterling threatens again down the left side with England and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill having to content with his quick feet
When
Begovic signed up to be Courtois’ understudy he probably didn’t expect
to be involved so soon in the season – or be quite so busy. With
Courtois banned following his sending off against Swansea last week, it
was Begovic in goal for the first marquee game of this season, and
Begovic versus Manchester City for much of the first-half.
Without
a goalkeeper at the top of his game, this match would have been over
long before the mid-point such was Manchester City’s precision in
cutting through Chelsea’s defence. Begovic even won an unlikely fan in
opposing striker Sergio Aguero, who was so impressed at the way he had
been thwarted that he offered a high five salute to his rival. And no
doubt some tensely gritted teeth.
For
City versus Begovic, read Aguero versus Begovic, in essence. This was a
quite wonderful individual dual that began within the first 20 seconds
when David Silva threaded a pass through to the Argentine striker, who
sped clear of the back line, one on one. Perhaps the chance came a
little too soon and he was rusty, his finish ordinary and smartly saved.
From the rebound Jesus Navas curled a low shot just wide of the par
post.
Just
five minutes later Aleksandar Kolarov picked out Aguero again in a good
position, but Cesar Azpilicueta took the shot off his toes. There
followed two quite magnificent saves in the space of two minutes,
uncannily similar and earning Aguero’s sporting tribute. The first was
another Kolarov pass which Aguero brought under control superbly before
executing a great turn and a low shot, which Begovic kept out with a
strong outstretched hand. From City’s next attack a Navas cross from the
opposite, right, flank was met by Aguero and repelled by Begovic in
identical fashion. Even the striker felt moved to admire that one.
It
could not last, though, even a defence as strong as Chelsea’s had to
buckle under the sheer weight of City pressure and in the 31st minute
the team, and its striker, got what they deserved. It was Silva’s firm
pass into Aguero that started the move, the striker laying the ball back
to Yaya Toure and getting it back almost immediately. There were four
Chelsea defenders in the vicinity but it did not trouble him. He turned
Gary Cahill, left the rest for dead, and slipped his finish past Begovic
into the far corner. An exquisite goal, from an exquisite player and a
fair reward for the ambition shown.
Not
that the siege was over. Aguero laid the ball back to Raheem Sterling
in the 35th minute, but the new man shot wastefully over and in the last
attack before half-time a Kolarov cross was met by Eliaquim Mangala,
who should have done better with his glancing header. It provoked
Begovic’s one false step of the half, missing the ball with his punch
but connecting with Cahill’s nose, the player laid out and requiring
several minutes treatment.
This,
of course, brought Chelsea’s medics haring onto the field, much to the
merriment of the locals, following the fall-out from the row and
demotion of the previous pitchside team, Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn. The
Brazilian doctor had her name chanted, Jose Mourinho was cursed and,
then, Diego Costa was flattened by a wild forearm from Fernandinho –
meaning Manchester City’s medical staff had to come to the aid of
Chelsea’s stricken striker. More larks.
Mourinho
will have quietly noted that his point about the danger of being
reduced to nine men by pitchside treatment was vindicated by what
happened next. As Cahill and Costa waited to return, a Chelsea free-kick
broke down and City counter-attacked with numerical advantage, stifled
only by a magnificent rearguard action from Willian.
Aguero finally hits the mark as he
caresses his shot beyond the outstretched legs of John Terry (centre)
and Nemanja Matic (second right)
Chelsea's defenders and Aguero watch as the Argentine finds the back of the net in the 32nd minute with an inch perfect finish
Begovic is given no chance as Aguero's pinpoint effort goes well beyond his fully-stretched right arm
After threatening throughout the opening half hour, it seemed a matter of time until Aguero would put his side in the lead
The sky blue of the Manchester City
crowd rise to their feet as Aguero slides on his knees in celebration of
his first goal of the season
Manchester City players crowd around their goal scorer as they take the lead against the defending Premier League champions
The opening goal came with Aguero's fifth attempt and was his fourth strike on target as his side dominated the early stages
Chelsea's new medical team of Steven Hughes (left) and Chris Hughes (right) are called into action when Cahill gets a knock
The doctor and the physiotherapist attend to Cahill after they were appointed to replace Dr Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn
City midfielder Fernandinho leads with his left arm as he and Costa go up for a header before the Brazilian gets a yellow card
The incident just before half-time,
which saw Chelsea players demanding the City player be sent off, led to
ugly scenes in the tunnel
Costa clutches his head with both hands and grimaces after the arm of Fernandinho catches him during an aerial challenge
Chelsea players crowd around Costa and referee Martin Atkinson after the striker goes down with a cut to his head
With Chelsea's medical staff already attending to Cahill, City's medics assisted with the treatment of Costa on the pitch
Costa continues to remonstrate with referee Atkinson after a his head is bandaged up following the incident
Costa is held back by Cesc Fabregas (right) and Ivanovic (left) as he makes moves towards Fernandinho at half-time
Players from both sides are required to keep Costa and Fernandinho apart as the players make their way down the tunnel
Chelsea staff get involved also as a
fired-up Costa heads into the dressing room at the break while City
players shield Fernandinho
Ramires finds a way past City keeper Joe Hart but his effort is disallowed by the flag of the assistant referee
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak (front row left) and chief executive Ferran Soriano (right) watch on
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