Manchester
City dominated Saturday's title clash at Stamford Bridge but were left to
rue a wasted opportunity to close the gap, writes Matthew Stanger...
This was exactly what was expected of Saturday’s title clash at Stamford
Bridge: a tense encounter few of real chances and with a huge emphasis on
defending. The sort of occasion Jose Mourinho loves to manage.
The Chelsea coach may have been disappointed by his team quickly throwing
away their advantage in the first half, but this was always a must-not-lose
match for the Blues, especially with both Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa
absent.
Manchester City, on the other hand, arrived at the home of their rivals in
search of a win that would close the gap at the top to just two points. They
pushed in the second half, fresher than an opponent drained by midweek
Capital One Cup exertions, but failed to find the decisive breakthrough.
"There's no doubt that Manchester City are the better team and they're
applying real pressure to Chelsea,” said Sky Sports’ Gary Neville shortly
after half-time. “There are signs that Chelsea aren't shifting their legs as
quickly, the defence just isn't getting out.”
That viewpoint was reinforced by the statistics. Mourinho’s side didn’t
manage a single shot in the second half, ceding the lion’s share of
possession and territory – 34 per cent of the game was played in Chelsea’s
half, compared to 21 per cent in City’s. The Blues’ total of just three
attempts in 90 minutes is their lowest for over 10 years.
It was a show of respect rather than frailty, however, with any notion of
weakness firmly stamped out by Mourinho’s “giant”, Nemanja Matic. The Serb
made a towering full debut against City at the Etihad in February 2013, but
was arguably even more impressive on this occasion, completing eight tackles
– more than any other player – in an imposing performance. One block on Gael
Clichy in the second half drew applause from his manager; wincing was
probably a more appropriate reaction.
But Matic did his job on an evening when Chelsea played almost perfectly to
the Mourinho rule book. "When you look at this Chelsea team it does seem to
be set up more for the counter-attack,” said Neville. "Goals and assists are
both missing, this is where others have to step up.”
Eden Hazard and Loic Remy combined brilliantly to open the scoring, but the
focus remained on prevention rather than penetration. By replacing Remy with
Gary Cahill as the clock ticked down, Mourinho underlined his intention: do
not lose, five points could be enough with 15 matches to go.
For Manuel Pellegrini, then, this must feel like a missed opportunity.
Drawing against a team happy to accept a draw is no real achievement,
especially with his equivalent to Fabregas and Costa – David Silva and
Sergio Aguero – fit and firing in the first XI.
Despite the duo’s role in the equaliser just before half-time, their overall
impact was minimal, with both replaced for the final onslaught. Pellegrini’s
decision to move Silva closer to the right flank where he could link up with
Jesus Navas brought some joy in the second half, but there was not enough
guile to grind down Chelsea’s grit.
Yaya Toure’s absence proved crucial. In a game dominated by the fraught
battle in the centre, the Ivorian’s power, driving runs and superb finishing
could have made the difference. Toure would certainly have been the antidote
to Matic’s dominant display and, on the two occasions the ball fell to
Fernandinho on the edge of the box, Pellegrini must have rued the loss of
last season’s top scorer to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I think it's a better point for Chelsea than City,” said Neville before the
final whistle. It echoed the judgement Mourinho must have made some time
between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, following the news of Costa’s
three-match suspension and Fabregas’ failed fitness test on his hamstring
injury.
Maintaining the status quo is no shame for Chelsea, though. It was City who
had to find a winner at Stamford Bridge and it is City who are left to make
up ground in the final 15 matches.
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