Jose Mourinho will have you believe that Chelsea’s 3-0
defeat at the hands of Manchester City was a ‘fake result’. He will also try to
convince anybody who is subjected to listening to him that his side were the
better team in the second half of the game.
Despite his best intentions, these two outlandish statements
alone are proof that Jose isn’t always capable of manipulating the media. His
bullish remarks not only lack integrity but also fall completely into the realm
of nonsensical. For this was the day when the manager of the Champions
substituted Mr John ‘Captain Leader Legend™’ Terry for the very first time. A
day where he stood on the touchline perplexed with not much of a Plan A, let
alone a Plan B. A day where City played his team completely off the park.
Jose may have been able to deflect any criticism after
Chelsea’s title defence began with 2-2 home draw to Swansea onto club doctor
Eva Carneiro, but here there was nowhere to hide. Despite his desperate attempts
to make poor JT the scapegoat this time, a move that made no sense seeing as
Gary Cahill is equally as slow and was left on the pitch, the Champions were
left brutally exposed by a City side who were not only physically superior but
were stronger in every position on the pitch. The 3-0 score line was far from a
fake result. In fact it doesn’t tell the whole story. It should’ve been a lot
more.
Manuel Pellegrini’s only change from the side that beat West
Brom 3-0 was to bring Sergio Aguero in for Wilfried Bony upfront. As soon as
Martin Atkinson blew his whistle to declare the day’s proceedings open, City
were a force to be reckoned with. Aguero, Golden Boot winner last season and
human assault rifle, almost scored within the first minute but Chelsea’s second
choice goalkeeper Asmir Begovic stood firm. This became a running theme
throughout the first half, with the Bosnian thwarting Pellegrini’s smiling
assassin time and time again. Chelsea’s defence were ran ragged and were
repeatedly bamboozled by the pace of Raheem Sterling, the trickery of David
Silva, the power of Yaya Toure and the sheer wonderment of Aguero. Assertive
and professional to a tee, City’s focus was unequivocal. They meant business.
