Chelsea vs Manchester City Preview

At the risk of sounding like a bit of a stuck record or unimaginative describer of the brilliance that is Thomas Tuchel, all I’ll say is “wow”! The German master has come into the Premier League and completely stamped his authority. To suggest that the control and quality Chelsea exude is isolated to playing away from home, is ignorant and horribly shortsighted.

Their defensive solidity and lethal and bold attack – all coupled with exciting and experienced depth on the bench – could be the recipe to them once again mounting a Premier League challenge. Chelsea made five wholesale changes to their starting eleven against Tottenham, and yet the system and shape were everything we have come to expect from this Tuchel Chelsea. The luxury of bringing on a player like N’Golo Kante – a player best known for his defensive attributes and hardworking ethic – to change the poignancy with which the side was attacking, is just absolute poetry.

Even when they are not playing well or things just go wrong – as it did when Reece James was shown a red card at Anfield – Chelsea just didn’t ever look like they could be outdone. For the first 30 odd minutes at Tottenham on Sunday, Chelsea were put under severe pressure and yet again Spurs weren’t given a clear cut scoring opportunity.

Only five games into the season, but Chelsea have travelled to the Emirates, Anfield and the Tottenham Stadium coming away with seven points. They dropped points against Liverpool, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Playing the entire second half with 10 men against one of the best attacks in Europe in one of the most hostile venues in the world, is just a nod to their championship mentality.

Of the main title contenders this season, Manchester City have dropped the most points. Saturday’s draw with Southampton was a poor result for them particularly against the backdrop of the Chelsea performance.

However, we cannot start to forget that this is still an incredibly talented Manchester City side. Oh, and by the way they also happen to have this Pep Guardiola guy in charge…

The real – and only – difference between Chelsea and City is in the striking position. Well, at least in my opinion. City seemed to have prioritized a centre-forward in the transfer window but the interest in many of Europe’s elite never amounted to a deal. Gabriel Jesus looks better suited out wide and neither Ferran Torres nor Raheem Sterling is a traditional out-and-out number nine. I don’t doubt the quality, by the way, I’m merely suggesting the absence of a true and comfortable player to lead their line.

The Premier League champions are also struggling with a series of players out injured, but more than that City against Southampton seemed to just lack a clear and true intention, as is usually the case with a Pep Guardiola side. Of course, losing John Stones, Laporte and Gundogan to injury is a massive blow, but the depth that City have and usually celebrate has all of a sudden lost its impotence – and I reckon it’s just too convenient.

After a frustrating weekend, you can expect a huge reaction from this City side, and there isn’t a better time to conjure up a reaction and remind the rest who the champions are, than to make a statement against this Chelsea side.