SIMPLY DIE BEST! BEST!
Guardiola: Kevin is a world-class player... his mum and dad must be so proud
MANCHESTER CITY tested positive in their bid to retain the Premier League title.
Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliant second-half strike put Pep Guardiola’s men into even deeper isolation at the top of the table – 13 points clear of the vanquished European champions.
And while the scoreline suggests victory came by only the narrowest of margins, the reality was that Thomas Tuchel’s men left the Etihad well beaten.
Apart from an effort by Romelu Lukaku at the start of the second half – Chelsea’s only shot on target – the visitors offered nothing more offensive than a clutch of blow-up European Cups waved by their fans.
City passed and probed with patience and kept the Londoners on a leash that they never threatened to break free from.
This was City’s 12th victory on the bounce and a delighted Guardiola said: “Chelsea are European champions – and they deserve that – so I know how well we have played.
“They are masters of defending, but this is an important victory because they are a big contender. In 180 minutes against Chelsea this season, we have conceded only one shot on target. That is so good.
“When you win 12 games in a row, then sometimes you have to be lucky, like we were at Arsenal. I only wanted to win this game if we deserved to – and we did deserve it. Today, football was fair – and I like that.”
On goalscorer and talisman De Bruyne, Guardiola (both right) told BT Sport: “We have won what we have done together – and now I want to push him more.
“He is a world-class player, he has humility and is humble. He has won three Premier Leagues and a lot of prizes, but I want more, because I know he can do it. He has everything.
“He missed a bit of confidence this season, he struggled a bit, but he knows what he can do. His mum and dad have to be so proud of him.”
City’s pressing made life hell for
Tuchel’s men, who did not have the skill or inclination to pass through it.
Yet Tuchel would have been tempted to think his game plan was working when the break came.
For all of City’s dominance, their only clear chance came courtesy of Mateo Kovacic’s mistake in the 39th minute. De Bruyne ambushed the Croatian on the edge of the Chelsea box and the bounce of the ball put Jack Grealish clear.
But the £100millon midfielder conjured up a two-bob finish and K epa Arrizabalaga saved his shot.
Luka when half by betwe
epa Arrizabalaga saved his ku cost only slightly less and Kovacic opened the second sending him galloping clear n John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, the Belgian would have expected to score given his recent outburst about his role in the team.
But he telegraphed his attempt to beat Ederson to the keeper’s right and his intention was read perfectly by the Brazilian.
But City continued to pose all of the threat and when Tuchel brought on Callum Hudson-odoi and Timo Werner in the 69th minute in a bid to turn the tide, his plans were torn apart within 60 seconds.
Ironically, the team so intent on counter-attacking was punished in transition.
De Bruyne ghosted himself into space to collect Joao Cancelo’s pass and turned in an instant before muscling his way past N’golo Kante.
Antonio Rudiger’s reluctance to engage the City midfielder allowed De Bruyne to look up before guiding a sweet shot past Arrizabalaga from 25 yards. Tuchel seemed to suggest that the only way his European champions could beat City was to set themselves up to counter-attack – and then get lucky.
Tuchel said: “I thought we deserved a draw. We did not deserve to lose because we restricted City to a minimum of big chances.
“But the individual quality of De Bruyne made the difference.
“We didn’t have the quality you need to hurt them.”