THE VERDICT: CHELSEA 0 CITY 1
AFTER a week of car crashes and knee crunches which seemed to have dealt severe blows to City’s title hopes, the Blues had to come out fighting.
And the fact that they did not only outplay the reigning champions, but also out-fought and out-thought them, laid their title credentials out for all to see.
City needed to show that they can cope until November without iconic Sergio Aguero, injured in a car crash in Amsterdam on Thursday night.
And they needed to prove that the loss of Benjamin Mendy – who had become so vital, so quickly – and with no direct replacement, was not a knife to the heart of their title hopes.
The fact that they went to the home of the champions and played with the kind of bold enterprise and attacking instinct that has characterised their season so far, bears testimony to the belief, as well as the ability, in this team.
Make no mistake, the losses of Aguero and Mendy were serious blows, but the fact that City emerged from the discomfort of a difficult week to play even BETTER than they have been doing, tells you something.
Chelsea also have dazzling attacking options on their team, but once their spearhead Alvaro Morata had limped off in the first half, they went further and further into their shell.
Morata’s departure evened things up in a way, as City had already lost their leading marksman Aguero.
The fact that City brushed off the two vital losses and continued on their merry way, tantalising and positive, tells you that they have the mental fortitude to match their football ability.
It will stand them in good stead for the rest of the campaign, with Chelsea sure to bounce back, and with United having an edge on physicality, even if their attacking flair falls short of that of their Blue neighbours.
Whether it’s Crystal Palace or Chelsea, David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne play with the same go-forward intent.
If Chelsea had taken the same approach, with the ability they have crammed into their team, it could have been a classic match – but instead Antonio Conte’s Italian heritage was fully in evidence as his team sank deeper and deeper into their own half.
Such nervousness suited City, and with Gabriel Jesus leading the line with a gladiatorial display which was garnished by his Brazilian touch and flair, they were always the better bet to score.
When the winning goal came, it was worthy of winning any game.
De Bruyne, once cast out by Chelsea, None De Bruyne (67) 38% 62% 17 8 4 4 None Otamendi, Fernandinho Martin Atkinson 41,530 returned with a vengeance, surging out of midfield and playing the ball in to the feet of Jesus, a hulking defender on his back. Jesus simply touched the ball to one side and into the path of De Bruyne, who swept on and larruped a stunning finish into the corner from 20 yards.
Bearing in mind he scored a similar goal with his RIGHT foot in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk, the genius of the Belgian is evident.
It was a brilliant performance and Chelsea were fortunate to escape with a bigger beating, especially as Jesus’ controlled volley was marvellously headed off the line by Antonio Rudiger.