Talking Points: Manchester City 3-0 Chelsea

The Premier League Champions travelled to the home of the former champions for their second match of the season.With last week being marred in controversy over Jose Mourinho’s public criticism of club doctor Eva Carniero and physio Jon Fearn, their place on the bench was taken by Chris Hughes and Steven Hughes respectively.Other absentees for Chelsea at the Etihad were Oscar through injury and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, whose red card against Swansea saw him serve a one match ban after Chelsea lost their appeal.This saw Asmir Begovic get his full debut in goal, and Ramires come in for Oscar.The only change in the Citizens line-up from last week, saw last season’s top scorer Sergio Aguero come in for Wilfried Bony.

#1 Asmir Begovic finally beaten

Manchester City thoroughly dominated the first half. David Silva put Sergio Aguero through on goal with an exquisite pass after just 22 seconds into the game, only for the Argentinian to fail to put it beyond the outstretched hands of debutant keeper Asmir Begovic.

But that was merely the start of a relentless string of attacks launched by the Sky Blues. Kolarov bombarded balls into the box from the left flank with Aguero and Elaquim Mangala just unable to get adequate contact on them.

On the other side, Jesus Navas and David Silva combined beautifully with Aguero on the right, drawing two brilliant saves from the Bosnian keeper.

Aguero finally got one past Begovic, when he combined with Yaya Toure, and then weaved his way past Gary Cahill, to calmly roll the ball into the corner of the Chelsea goal.

On the other end, Chelsea did not manage a single shot on target in the first half. Diego Costa was elbowed by Fernandinho when they both went up to claim a header, for which, the City midfielder could have seen a red card.

All Chelsea had to show for the first half, was a disappointed and fuming Diego Costa and a bleeding Gary Cahill, due to a nose injury, yet again.

Manchester City finished the first half up by only one goal, but on another day they could have had five. But Sergio Aguero scored his first ever goal past the Bosnian keeper in the Premier League to break his duck.

#2 Chelsea get better, City get brilliant

Chelsea started the second half much better than the first one. The pressing was much better, with the defence holding a higher line. They were much more effective in impeding City’s attacks through the young and pacy Kurt Zouma, who came on for Terry.

On the other end, City only had to deal with Diego Costa’s tantrums who flung himself at the ground, furious, at the slightest shove or push. Chelsea did manage to put the ball into City’s net through Ramires who poked the ball beyond Joe Hart, but was deemed offside.

The decisive moment of the match was probably when, Eden Hazard bursting through midfield slid the ball through to Diego Costa who managed to slide it back into the Belgian’s path only for him to shoot straight at the City goalkeeper.

It was after this that the Manchester City dominance started. Vincent Kompany managed to outmuscle the on-pitch Chelsea captain – Branislav Ivanovic and head the ball past Begovic, to put the home team two goals ahead. The Manchester City forward line launched attack after attack, against a paralysed Chelsea defence.

A half-hearted clearance from Ivanovic ricocheted into the path of Fernandinho who rifled a shot into the far corner.

Pellegrini’s team gave a classic example of the dazzling brand of attacking football they are capable of playing.

#3 John Terry substituted

Chelsea’s captain was pivotal in their title-winning campaign last season, playing every minute of every game in the league. Which made it very surprising to see the 20-year-old Kurt Zouma replace him at half time, with Terry showing no signs of an injury.

In the lead up to the first goal, Terry was uncharacteristically caught out of position when he allowed himself to get drawn towards the ball, leaving his position in the back four vacant, which allowed Aguero to open the scoring for City.

Interestingly, this was the first time that Jose Mourinho has substituted Terry in a league match, in either of his stints as Chelsea manager.

In the post match conference, Mourinho confirmed that the decision to take the Chelsea skipper off was purely tactical. In his opinion, Zouma being much faster than Terry, was more accomplished to deal with City’s counter-attacking threat. And indeed, he was proved correct.

Although he did go on to mention that Terry was still his trusted player and there was nothing to suggest any discord.

#4 Manchester City back to best

The Sky Blues clearly did not live upto their potential last season.

Vincent Kompany, who was one of the best defenders in the world till the previous season was struggling, Mangala seemed like an expensive flop and Yaya Toure was uninvolved and off colour, Pellegrini probably thought of ordering him a cake.

In his pre-match conference, Manuel Pellegrini claimed, that his established stars are driven by a hunger to win rather than a desire to prove doubters wrong, and they certainly proved him right.

Kompany was a rock at the back, and even scored a great header from a corner. Eliaquim Mangala, although still capable of a rash tackle seems like an able partner for the City captain.

And most importantly, Yaya Toure seems like a reinvigorated player. The imposing Ivorian was a force to reckon with in City’s midfield with his powerful runs and physical presence.

At their best, Manchester City are one of the most delightful teams to watch.

But what would be worrying most teams is that Sergio Aguero who started his first game since the Copa America final not only scored a brilliant goal but actually seemed to gain in sharpness as the game progressed.

#5 Chelsea in disarray

Lady Luck was clearly not on Chelsea’s side, nor or their bench for that matter.

Chelsea’s new medical team was greeted to rapturous yet sarcastic applause from the Etihad when they came on to treat Cahill’s bleeding nose(with Mourinho’s permission of course). Costa went down holding his head after he was elbowed in the head by Fernandinho as they both went up for a header.

Ironically enough, Cahill was still being treated on the sidelines and Manchester City medical staff had to come on to help.

Fernandinho should have had a red card for his elbow on Costa and Yaya Toure should have probably received a second yellow in the 87th minute when he shoved Cuadrado in the back.

But these are excuses so out of context, that even Mourinho could not convincingly pull a facade over the problems in his squad in his post-match interview.

The Chelsea players desperately need to come out of pre-season mode.

The Chelsea back four has an incredible number of problems for a side that had the best defensive record last season. John Terry and Gary Cahill were never the fastest, but they seem to struggle in terms of sharpness and positioning as well. Branislav Ivanovic seems to have lost a yard of pace, and his attacking flair too.

On the attacking front, Chelsea seem to lack the creativity and spark that got them off to such a flier last season. Even Eden Hazard seems rusty and a long way off from being the best player in the Premier League.

This was probably a perfect advertisement for Mourinho to force Abramovich, to loosen the purse strings and get John Stones from Merseyside to London.