KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- The Manchester City machine is purring back into action. Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions, without being at full strength, issued a warning to all their noisy, would-be title challengers by winning commandingly at Chelsea.
Erling Haaland opened City’s account with an early goal against his favourite opponents; the Norwegian had scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in a pre-season tour game in the United States. Ex-Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic struck a late, deserved second.
City manager Guardiola has insisted he remains as hungry as ever to keep on winning titles and trophies. This may mean further transfer activity before the August 30 deadline after the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid and the leg fracture which will sideline Oscar Bobb for the first half of the season.
Victory over Manchester United on penalties in the FA Community Shield was the 18th prize of what is now Guardiola’s ninth season. However this is a season with a difference. The verdict this autumn on the 115 charges of breaching financial fairplay rules could influence his decision on a contract which expires next summer.
Equally uncertain is the future for Chelsea who have spent £185m on new players but entrusted them to a new manager in Enzo Maresca. The former Guardiola protege won promotion last season with Leicester but has no experience in the Premier League.
Maresca had appointed Enzo Fernandez as captain, despite the Copa America abusive chants controversy, and omitted the unwanted Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell. City held back England’s Euro finalists Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden on the subs bench and were without Rodri altogether.
City did line up Erling Haaland, however, and he marked his 100th City appearance by opening scoring in the 18th minute. No player in the top five European leagues has scored more than his 91 goals since arriving in July 2022.
Fine saves
Chelsea’s build-up, in response, was too slow and City were more dangerous on the break, thanks to the speed of new boy Savinho on the right. Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez saved well from Jeremy Docku and Bernardo Silva.
Haaland, in the second half, drew another fine save from Sanchez, collected a yellow card for kicking Levi Colwill instead of the ball and exchanged angry words with Fernandez.
The Blues failed to create a clear opportunity and Maresca, trying to rescue at least a point, wrung the changes. On came Pedro Neto, the £54m signing from Wolves, the ex-Barcelona teenager Marc Guiu and Maresca’s Leicester protégé Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Still, City refused to yield.
Chelsea claimed a penalty for hands against Kovacic in vain and their old boy capitalised by striking City’s 84th-minute second goal. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly took his cue and disappeared into the boardroom.
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