HAMMERS BURST CITY’S
BUBBLE WITH CLASSY AWAY WIN
It was a week to forget for Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester
City. Unbeaten after five Premier League wins, it was same old City in the
Champions League, when Juventus came from a goal behind to win 2-1. After
taking the lead through a towering header by Vincent Kompany, who was only too
happy to use Giorgio Chiellini as a climbing frame, the captain went off
injured and City capitulated, with errors from defenders Eliaqium Mangala and
substitute Nicolas Otamendi leading to both goals.
Most people would’ve punted for the home win on their
accumulators when West Ham visited the Etihad given City’s League form- how
wrong they were. Early goals from Victor Moses and Sakho left the home fans
stunned. City, with Kompany and the mercurial David Silva (injured in the warm
up), showed shades of what went wrong for them last season. A defensive
shambles, lack of organisation, leadership and a certain Spaniard pulling the
strings in midfield, it was down to record signing Kevin De Bruyne to impress,
pulling a goal back just before half time.
After the break City huffed and puffed but they couldn’t
blow the Hammers’ house down for love nor money. Registering 27 shots, West Ham
goalkeeper Adrian pulled off a string of mesmeric saves to deny the home side
the equaliser they so desperately searched for. It was an accomplished away win
from Slaven Bilic’s side, whose smash and grab tactics early on left City
stunned with a mountain to climb.
City remain leaders of the pack, but United are now just two
points behind them. A stunning 4-1 Capital One Cup win at the Stadium of Light
against an abysmal Sunderland side will go a long way to ease any nerves that
may have crept in and boost confidence, but it’s a tricky trip to White Hart
Lane next on Saturday to see if Pellegrini’s side can return to form in the
League.
HOMETOWN GLORY FOR
MOURINHO’S CHELSEA
After a dismal start to the season, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea
have enjoyed a winning week to ease the pressure and get their campaign back on
track. When Eden Hazard missed a penalty early on in their Champions League tie
against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Portuguese must have feared the worst. But his
side went on to brush aside the visitors with a comfortable 4-0 win, with goals
from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.
It was just the confidence boost Chelsea needed, but the
real test was always going to be Arsenal in the League. A fiery encounter was
guaranteed, but nobody could’ve quite expected the two red cards that followed.
Antagonist extraordinaire Costa was at his villainous best, deploying his
trademark wind-up tactics to Arsenal defender Gabriel, who responded with a
petulant kick out a la David Beckham vs. Diego Simeone in the World Cup 1998.
After the break Kurt Zouma headed in from close range to
give Chelsea the lead and a Calum Chambers own goal from Hazard’s shot sealed
the three points for the Blues for only the second time this season. Arsene
Wenger’s misery was compounded when Santi Cazorla saw red after receiving a
second yellow card. Despite Arsenal going down to nine men, the game for the
best part had been wonderfully open and free flowing, but will Wenger be left
to rue the day he didn’t spend any of the £200 million sat in the bank on at
least a striker, with Arsenal looking remarkably short up front.
The win was vital for Mourinho, who will be comforted by big
performances from Zouma, Fabregas and Hazard in particular. Their early season
hangover seems to be lifting, but Jose’s headache will linger after news that
the FA have decided to charge his striker Costa with violent conduct. He will
now miss the next three domestic games, starting with their League Cup match
against Walsall. It’s Newcastle away next for Chelsea on Saturday: with their
title rivals stuttering, Jose will be hoping his side can continue their return
to form on Tyneside, albeit without their main striker.
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