London: Having won four consecutive Premier League titles, Manchester City opened their defence of the champion’s title with a 2-0 win over Chelsea. Setting them on their path to victory was Erling Haaland with his 91st Premier League goal in his 100th appearance for the club.
Praising Haaland, City manager, Pep Guardiola, who signed Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, said: “That is a number for Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In terms of numbers, it is at that level. I don’t know how he does it to score 91 goals in 100 games. In the Premier League, in this country it is unbelievable.”
He added: “It seems to me that he feels better than last season at this stage — after the treble he felt tired. This season with Norway not in the Euros, it is more rest. He feels good and the goal was magnificent.”
In must be said Chelsea did play well in new manager Enzo Maresca’s first match — the fifth manager under the reign of Todd Boehly. They were very much in the game until City’s late second goal. They squandered several fine chances to score, they had more of them than City.
Several City top players did not get a start in this match, instead they included the new signing, the Brazilian Savinho who was impressive but left the field at the end of the first half with a knock on the knee.
City opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Jeremy Daku switched over to the left after being kept under pressure by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella. He played a fine pass inside to Bernardo Silva from whom the ball went to Haaland in the box. The strong and determined Norwegian then, despite the close presence of Cucurella and Levi Colwill, wriggled past them taking control and beating Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal.
Shortly after City had taken the lead a shout from Chelsea for a penalty was ignored when Enzo Fernandez was pushed inside the area and then a minute before the break Chelsea did find the net only for the goal to be disallowed for offside by Nicolas Jackson.
There were further lapses by Chelsea in the second half. Just after Sanchez had made a fine diving save from a shot by Haaland, Jackson was not in position to meet an excellent cross from the right which would have given the home side an equaliser. Two minutes later. Jackson again failed to get a touch to a cross which would have beaten Ederson. That was an excellent chance missed.
A shout from Chelsea players for a handball inside the box went unchecked and despite late pressure on the City goal from Chelsea they seemed unable to beat the City defence which was quick to intercept shots.
With six minutes remaining City wrapped up the result with their second goal. Former Chelsea player, Mateo Kovacic picked up the ball from a poor clearance and went past Wesley Fofana and Moises Caicedo before unleashing a 25-yard drive which went into the net with a slight touch of the left post.
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