City in league of their own
Top rivals fail to make headway against leaders’ all-round strength
Statistics often don’t tell the whole story but some figures from Manchester City’s dominant 1-0 win over Chelsea further highlighted the gulf in class between the Premier League leaders and the rest.
Chelsea arrived at Etihad Stadium as the English champions — for a few more weeks, anyway — but ended up playing ultra-defensively, bowing to the utter supremacy of a team that have turned the title race into a procession.
City completed more passes (902) than any team have managed in a Premier League game. City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan completed more passes (161) than any other single player in a Premier League game.
City had 78 per cent possession in the first half, a scarcely believable stat against a top-six rival — especially one of the quality of Chelsea, who didn’t even have a shot in that period.
Ultimately, the most important number for City was 18 — the record points lead they hold after 29 games, thanks to Bernardo Silva’s winner just 33 seconds into the second half.
“They are showing a fantastic quality, but at the same time a fantastic mentality,” Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said. “When you match quality and mentality, I think you become unstoppable.
“At this moment, you have to accept every criticism. But I’m not so stupid to play open and lose 3-0 or 4-0.”
When a team like Chelsea have this attitude, the rest of the Premier League have no hope.
With their 14th straight league win at home, City moved to within 12 points of clinching the title. They need 18 more points from the last nine games to pass Chelsea’s record points haul of 95, from the 2004-05 season — and the magic 100-point mark is coming into view. City’s hunger and desire are that strong.
Asked if he thought this dominance of the league was possible before the season started, City manager Pep Guardiola said: “No way. No way. Who could believe it? I think if you ask the players, the players neither.
“In terms of not just the results but the way we played, today was another demonstration . To have the distance, 25 to Chelsea, 33 to Arsenal, (20) to Tottenham is a lot.”
Chelsea, missing key midfielder N’Golo Kante, just about survived the first half, only to concede immediately after the restart when David