LONDON: Even the most successful managers sometimes ‘over-think’ matches.

Pep Guardiola was guilty in the Champions League Final defeat by Chelsea then it was the turn of Thomas Tuchel in the Blues’ home defeat by Manchester City. Each time the punishment was a 1-0 defeat.

City were impressive and might have ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season with a more decisive victory at Stamford Bridge. Gabriel Jesus settled the duel with a 53rd-minute effort which deflected past Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy off Jorginho.

Jesus almost saw Thiago Silva clear an effort off the line and Aymeric Laporte shot wide from inside the goal area. Mendy also produced two crucial saves from the excellent Jack Grealish. The Brazilian’s goal was his 52nd in the league goal. City have not lost any of their 44 Premier games when he has scored.

This was the champions back to their best and warning one of their main title rivals that they will not willingly concede their crown. They attacked from the start. Laporte and Ruben Dias were in command in defence, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Grealish creative going forward, Phil Foden an effective false No9 and Jesus dangerous off the right wing.

A win under pressure was the perfect start to a big week. City and Guardiola visit Paris St-Germain in the Champions League tomorrow [TUE] then go to Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday. Guardiola is now the most successful manager in City’s history not only in terms of trophies (10) but victories. His 221st win in five years exceeded the 220 under Scotsman Les McDowall (one FA Cup) between 1950 and 1963.

Other statistics illustrated the extent of City’s control: they had 15 shots to Chelsea’s five and 13 corners to four. Chelsea failed to manage even one shot on target.

Guardiola said: “In the last months we have done many good games, otherwise you cannot win the Premier League and be runners up in the Champions League. It’s incredible what these players have done.

“People say the Champions League was a disaster. We played 13 games, won 11, drew one and lost one. When this happens it is exceptional, that helps us and now we go to Paris to play. I have the feeling the players are there and want to make another good season.”

Tuchel, after Chelsea’s success with Romelu Lukaku as centre-forward, changed his system by bringing back Timo Werner alongside him. The partnership failed so Tuchel reverted to his more familiar 3-4-3, replacing N’Golo Kante with Kai Havertz. Too late. Chelsea, who visit Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, were always second best.

Tuchel thought his players lacked belief. He said: “We played as if we had something to lose.” He also admitted to self-doubt, saying: “I will ask the question of myself: ‘was it the right shape?’

“City deserved to win. We were very strong in the last 20m of the field but only there, unfortunately, and there are another 80m left where we were not good enough to escape pressure. We were not on our very best level, and you need your very best level for a game like this.”

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