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Manchester
City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne celebrates with teammates after
scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between
Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2017.
Adrian Dennis / AFP
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Match-winner Kevin De
Bruyne came back to haunt former club Chelsea as Manchester City defeated the
Premier League champions 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to reclaim top
spot.
AFP
report continues:
De
Bruyne, who left Chelsea for Wolfsburg in January 2014, struck from outside the
box midway through the second half, securing a victory that cemented City’s
status as the early title favourites.
City
recovered first place from Manchester United on goal difference and move six
points clear of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who were beaten at home for a second
time after their shock opening-weekend loss to Burnley.
It
represented a forceful return to earth for Chelsea after their excellent
Champions League win at Atletico Madrid and their disappointment was compounded
by an injury to prolific new striker Alvaro Morata.
Following
Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Arsenal in their previous home game, this was the
first time Conte had seen one of his teams fail to score in successive games on
home turf in his managerial career.
While
the former Juventus boss was left to lick his wounds, opposite number Pep
Guardiola could revel in a first victory over Chelsea inside 90 minutes in
eight games as a manager.
City
had scored 16 goals in their three previous league matches, but in successfully
overwhelming the defending champions on their own patch, this was arguably
their most impressive performance of the campaign to date.
The
result also served to equal the club record of five consecutive top-flight away
wins, matching sequences established between April and September 1912 and May
to September 2015.
Following
his star turn in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Atletico, Eden Hazard took his place
in the Chelsea starting XI for the first time in a league fixture this season.
Conte
retained the same 3-5-1-1 system he had used against Atletico and his men
threatened to pick up where they had left off in the Spanish capital, Morata
glancing a header wide from N’Golo Kante’s cross.
But
it was to prove a false dawn as City’s aggressive pressing and probing possession
play kept the champions on the back foot throughout the first half.
Lucky
13 for Kevin
Chelsea
goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois almost embarrassed himself in the 12th minute when,
after playing a one-two with Antonio Rudiger at a goal-kick, he allowed Gabriel
Jesus to close him down as he assessed his passing options.
Fortunately
for the Belgian, after striking the advancing Jesus, the ball bounded over the
crossbar for a goal-kick.
Raheem
Sterling wasted a great opportunity for City when he overhit a cross with Jesus
and David Silva racing into the box.
Courtois
was twice called into direct action, repelling a fierce strike from Silva and
then showing sharp reflexes to turn away Fernandinho’s bullet header from De
Bruyne’s corner.
Chelsea
were obliged to feed off scraps, particularly after Morata left the fray in the
35th minute, gesturing to his left hamstring, which saw Willian come on to form
an unorthodox front two with Hazard.
Cesar
Azpilicueta and Hazard worked Ederson either side of half-time, but the City
goalkeeper needed only regulation saves on each occasion.
After
Marcos Alonso had blocked impressively from Silva, De Bruyne broke through in
the 67th minute when he exchanged passes with Jesus before steering a glorious
shot inside the right-hand post with his left foot.
With
four assists and nine goals, the gifted Belgian midfielder has been involved in
13 goals in his last 13 City appearances.
Jesus
went close to extending the visitors’ lead when his side-foot volley was headed
off the line by Rudiger.
Chelsea’s
charge was late in coming and they came no nearer an equalizer than a header
from Andreas Christensen in the last minute that cleared the bar comfortably.
Guardiola Reveals Spain
Ambition
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Manchester
City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola / AFP Photo / Paul Ellis
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AFP
reports that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed he wants to
coach Spain in the future.
Former
Spain midfielder Guardiola is in his second season with City after successful
spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The
46-year-old failed to win a trophy in his first year in England, but City have
emerged as early pace setters in the Premier League title race this season.
While
Guardiola has no plans to leave City any time soon, he admitted he is keen to
test his skills at international level.
Asked
whether he would like to take charge of a national team, Guardiola told BBC’s
Football Focus: “Yes, Spain I think.
“I
would like to be a manager in a World Cup, and the European Cup (European
Championships), I would like to feel that.”
After
a chastening first season at City, Guardiola spent big on new signings before
the new campaign.
The
early results are promising, but he knows he must deliver silverware soon to
keep City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners happy.
“I
am so happy to be here,” he added. “It really depends on the success we have. Big clubs like Manchester
City, if you don’t win, you don’t stay.”
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