Rodri’s roar proving again that Pep’s City could never go quietly...
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EVEN Gary Neville must have been tempted to turn on the TV at half-time.
It was developing into the kind of Manchester City game he likes. They were losing.
And City just don’t get beaten with the same regularity that they did back when Neville was growing up on the outskirts of town.
Mind you, he might have reached for the remote control again seven minutes from the end when Rodri came up with another crucial goal to rescue a point for the champions.
Rodri is the defensive midfielder whose strike won the Champions League last season.
Twelve months earlier he scored in a last-day, titledeciding victory over Aston Villa. Even a Manchester United legend must surely appreciate that?
Neville finds Pep Guardiola’s brand of football so boring that he couldn’t bring himself to watch them in the Champions League.
But styles make fights – and if a manager is brave enough to send his team out on the front foot like Mauricio Pochettino did at the Etihad then they sometimes get an opportunity to land a knockout blow.
Raheem Sterling would have enjoyed putting his former manager on his backside with the goal that put Chelsea into a richly-deserved lead.
But the visitors paid the price for failing to follow it up when the champions appeared to be reeling.
Sterling’s relationship with Guardiola during their six years together was often strained and when he was sold to Chelsea he couldn’t resist having a pop at the City boss.
The winger complained he wasn’t given enough game-time. Guardiola insisted he could have stayed to fight for his place.
Both will agree that Sterling’s finishing prowess improved beyond all recognition after Guardiola asked Mikel Arteta to work on his composure in front of goal.
So when Nicolas Jackson’s clever flick left City exposed in the 42nd minute and Malo Gusto’s return pass sent the Gambian striker free down the right, the City boss would have feared the worst when he spotted Sterling making a dash into the home team’s box.
He was right to. Sterling still had work to do when Jackson’s cross found him. But a slight feint was enough to unbalance Kyle Walker and he cut inside to beat keeper Ederson with an accomplished finish.
Pochettino has ordered both Sterling and Cole Palmer to celebrate if they scored against their former club.
The winger offered up a hand of apology. But the grin on his face showed how much he enjoyed it.
They would definitely have been celebrating at Anfield – and at the Emirates as well.
And there might have been a roar of appreciation in Bury when news of the goal reached the Neville household.
Sterling should have scored again early in the second half.
It took a brilliant Ederson save to thwart him but the Chelsea winger really should
have given the City keeper no chance from point-blank range.
When Sterling was replaced just after the hour, boos from the home fans were eventually drowned out by the applause of appreciative City supporters who understand the role he played in their team’s rise.
Pochettino has shown before that he isn’t afraid to go toe-totoe with Guardiola. He did it regularly at Tottenham and in November he saw his team produce a stunning performance in a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge that will live long in the memory.
City were constantly hounded in midfield by Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
The pace of Sterling and
Jackson always gave Chelsea a threat. Only a dreadful first touch by Jackson enabled Ederson to make a save when the game was still goalless.
At the other end, Erling Haaland couldn’t shake off Levi Colwell and Axel Disasi.
Until, that is, De Bruyne picked the Norwegian out with a perfect 78th-minute cross and the unmarked striker sent his header over. City have come from behind to win five times already this season and with eight minutes remaining Rodri equalised. Walker’s shot was blocked by Disasi and Rodri marched onto the rebound to connect with a fierce left-footer that flew into the roof the net off the knee of Trevoh Chalobah. City hopes of a penalty when Colwell handled were snuffed out by VAR Peter Bankes. They will close to within a point of leaders Liverpool if they beat Brentford on Tuesday – but Guardiola will see this draw as an opportunity missed.