City make early statement
Aguero and Co show no sign of World Cup hangover in Community Shield victory
Despite the tight turnaround after the World Cup, Manchester City’s attacking ruthlessness has not been blunted by fatigue or the English heatwave. Winning the Community Shield demonstrated that beyond any doubt yesterday.
Three weeks after the World Cup finished, the Premier League champions opened the new season by collecting more silverware. Sergio Aguero scored twice — once in each half for his record-extending 200th and 201st goals for City — as FA Cup holders Chelsea were beaten 2-0 in the traditional curtainraiser to the English season at Wembley Stadium.
“The heat was so tough,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “So demanding.”
While it has been a summer of continuity at City after a record 100-point Premier League haul, Chelsea have gone through more turmoil in recent weeks.
“Our pre-season until now has been crazy,” said Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri. “So we have to work.”
The former Napoli coach has had only a couple of weeks to work on his new Chelsea squad after the protracted firing of Antonio Conte, abandoning his fellow Italian’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation for 4-3-3.
Although Conte won the FA Cup at Wembley in May, he paid the price for Chelsea’s slump from league winners to fifth place, leaving the 2012 Champions League winners out of Europe’s elite competition this season. City finished 30 points ahead of Chelsea.
City had already wrapped up their third Premier League title in six years when Aguero underwent surgery on his left knee in April. The striker was fit for the World Cup but Argentina were eliminated in the round of 16, ensuring he left Russia two weeks before the tournament ended. A diving Willy Caballero attempts to stop Sergio Aguero, who scored both City’s goals yesterday.
“He arrived [back at City] so sharp, so good,” Guardiola said. “With him and Gabriel [Jesus], we are good in that position.”
Aguero’s second goal against Chelsea completed a counter-attack in the 58th minute. John Stones gained possession inside his own half, Ilkay Gundogan advanced with the ball and Bernardo Silva then threaded a pass through to Aguero, who netted his 201st goal.
Resolving the managerial situation
has not ended uncertainty around Chelsea. Both goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Eden Hazard are still on their breaks after helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup. It’s unclear if they will play for Chelsea again, with the duo linked with moves to Real Madrid.
Courtois’ agent was quoted as saying over the weekend that the goalkeeper, who was sent to Atletico Madrid on loan for three years, now wants to move back to the Spanish
capital to be close to his children.
Sarri wants to hear the message directly from Courtois.
“I am not interested in the agent,” Sarri said. “If Courtois will tomorrow tell me the same, I will have to speak to my club. I want only players with a high level of motivations. I have [nothing] to answer to the agent.”
Chelsea open their campaign at Huddersfield on Sunday, and City are back in London on Monday to face Unai Emery’s Arsenal.