THE VERDICT: CITY 0 CHELSEA 0
CITY kept their nerve to retain the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory over a Chelsea side that impressively defied the Blues for 118 minutes before spectacularly imploding.
Against expectations and with speculation swarming about the manager’s future, Maurizio Sarri showed for the second time in three meetings that his side can be a match for the Premier League champions.
But the positivity the performance generated was incredibly undone minutes from the end of extra time when Kepa Arrizabalaga publicly defied his manager by refusing to come off the pitch despite Willy Caballero’s number going up on the board to replace him.
Chelsea’s record signing then could only keep Leroy Sane’s penalty out, meaning Ederson’s stop from Jorginho – and David Luiz hitting the post – proved decisive as Raheem Sterling smashed the Blues to victory.
If the game went all the way, this was vindication for City’s approach both in the final and in the games to get here. Pep Guardiola takes trophies seriously, and now has the fourth of his two-and-ahalf year reign at the Etihad.
It may have seemed jovial when he corrected a reporter a few weeks ago that had talked of the five trophies he won in his first season at Barcelona – six, he laughed as he pulled a face – it was more serious when he counted the Community Shield as the first title already won this campaign. A manager determined to take City all the way in Europe takes a lot from how they perform in big games on the grand stages, and showed he was not messing around with his team selection. Aro Muric and Phil Foden, having played in every round on the way to the final, were left on the bench, as was Danilo who had made the Team of the Tournament with Muric. In came Ederson and at least one of the strongest XIs available. One of the biggest calls was to leave Ilkay Gundogan on the bench. Having talked up the German’s incredible form especially since the beginning of 2019, Guardiola reverted back to the midfield trio that drove last season’s success. Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Fernandinho made up the three in the middle for only the second time this season – the first coming in the lame defeat to Newcastle in January. They struggled to dominate the game, although it should be said this was their best opposition in a while. City were clear favourites heading into the game. Not only are the defending league and cup champions having a better season than Chelsea, they Simon Bajkowski None None 61% 16 7 39% 7 4 Otamendi, Fernandinho Rudiger, Luiz, Jorginho Craig Pawson 81,775 spanked them 6-0 a few weeks ago at the Etihad to plunge Sarri further onto the managerial tightrope that few Roman Abramovich picks reach the end of.
But if anyone was tuning in hoping for another mauling, it took less than a second to show this would be a very different game when Jorginho bodychecked Sergio Aguero immediately from kick-off.
Chelsea, wounded from the humbling few weeks, made no secret of the fact they would be out for revenge and Sarri set his team up to defend deep and make things difficult, with Eden Hazard the unorthodox frontman.
It was undeniably effective too. City had the majority of possession but struggled to create quality openings, with a half-volley from Aguero that was always rising their best in a frustrating first 45 minutes.
After an enforced change that saw Aymeric Laporte taken off for Vincent