IT was a case of men versus boys at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon as two of the league’s top sides played each other for the first time this season.
However, despite both teams being considered title challengers, the distance between the two could not be any further apart.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea were outclassed by Man City at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
Manchester City swatted Chelsea aside with easeCredit: PA:Press Association
Manchester City had gone 3-0 up against Chelsea within the first 35 minutes, meaning it was game over before the Blues could even settle into the match.
Pure and simple, Pep Guardiola’s City showed that they are absolutely levels above Frank Lampard’s Chelsea right now – and the Blues have miles and miles to travel if they are even to get near the levels of the Manchester side.
The bottom line is City were outstanding, and Chelsea were poor. But that wasn’t the story in the first 15 minutes.
Chelsea came out firing and took the game to a Covid-19 depleted City line up, and were unlucky not to get a penalty and things could have looked a lot different.
But Lampard’s team once again showed their complete lack of self-belief and timidity when City took the lead with pretty much their first attack of the game.
Instead of standing back up and going at it again, Chelsea fell apart and allowed City to take control of the match – this spelled game over for them.
Their intensity levels were not high enough when putting pressure on the ball when City had it in attacking areas, and their lack of desire to get to the second ball, or block a dangerous pass or shot, was clear for all to see.
Ilkay Gundogan scored a classy opener for CityCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Take nothing away from City, they were absolutely class when picking apart a weak Chelsea defence – but again, they wanted it more, they wanted the second ball more, and they hunted Chelsea in numbers, something that Lampard’s side failed to do once again.
We know that Lampard has a whole host of new signings at the club, with some still taking time to settle in, but I fear for just how long the Chelsea board will allow these results to go on for.
They will need to see results improve immediately.
But today was yet another wake-up call proving just how far away Chelsea are from a team like City.
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Tony Cascarino claims that Frank Lampard can get best out of Chelsea striker Timo Werner by signing Emile Heskey type of player
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
