It was a match between two of the best squads from Premier League and Manchester City prevailed after an impressive performance by the boys of Pep Guardiola. The ''Cityzens'' proved to be the better team and Chelsea felt the genius tactical impact of Guardiola. BBC points out that City managed to win the derby in the absence or their main striker, Aguero, injured after a car crash in Amsterdam. Antonio Conte didn't find the right answers to the challenge posed by Silva, Jesus, De Bruyne or Sane. Chelsea missed a golden chance to come three points closer to Manchester United and this season seems to be under the dominance of the former La Liga rivals, Guardiola and Mourinho.
Pep speaks on massive @ChelseaFC win!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 30, 2017
WATCH: https://t.co/RnC6IO55je #cfcvcity pic.twitter.com/raAqkPcmoB
Tiki-Taka made in Manchester
After the end of the first season, Guardiola was blamed for a lack of consistency in results and a poor defensive performance. This summer, he made sure he won't repeat the mistakes of the past and his team seems poised and ready to win trophies. The outcome is the signing of Ederson, Walker, Mendy, B.Silva, and Danilo. Investing in defence was vital for Pep although this cause controversy as Manchester City has been blamed of infringing Financial Fair Play regulations. But after a perfect September, there is no room for regrets for City as Saturday they put Stamford Bridge on silent.
According to BBC, they had 62 percent possession with 17 shots, 6 on target.
A determined, disciplined, display! #cfcvcity https://t.co/BraUOOxUIp
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 30, 2017
But how can you tackle the beautiful link of passes developed via David Silva - Fernandinho - De Bruyne - Jesus? Well, Kante, Fabregas, and Hazard were frustrated by the Tiki-Taka of Manchester City and this was quite obvious as Chelsea failed to impress with their long passes.
Especially after Morata left the game with a hamstring injury after 35 minutes. There was a danger alert for ''The Blues'' after Silva (30') and Fernandinho (44') were denied by Courtois' brilliant saves. Azpilicueta's shot in the right post was the most promising chance the champions had in the first half. Antonio Conte's players seemed to be happy with a point after the draining victory at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Bad decision as the dynamism of the short and precise passes of De Bruyne & Co paid off eventually.
Sweet revenge
Guardiola had different intentions as his attacking mentality dominated the game. His team pressed far more than Chelsea and attacked as if the match was played at Etihad. Suffocated by the high-pressure put by the midfielders of Manchester City, Kante, Fabregas, Azpilicueta or Cahill seemed clueless of what happened on the pitch and Chelsea looked as a group of football players who played together for the first time. On the other side, quick and soft touches made the difference and the 67th minute brought the winner from De Bruyne. Gabriel Jesus was on fire with a perfect assist for the young Belgian teammate and his strike from outside the 16m box ended up in the back of the net.
Superb shot, as BBC emphasizes this is De Bruyne's fourth goal in a row from outside the penalty box.
It could have been even more tragic for Chelsea as Gabriel Jesus stroke a clinical volley only to be denied by Rudiger. The champions tried too much to send long passes to their attacking players, while the set pieces were managed poorly. Too little to beat an in-form Manchester City which 25 goals scored and only one conceded. Top of the table for Pep's team and contention for Premier League supremacy at the horizon.