Chelsea spent their second weekend in a row up in Manchester, this time facing top of the table, high flying City. Whatever happened in this game, Blues fans could at least console themselves with the thought that don`t support Arsenal.
The minimum Chelsea could expect from their season, looking at the current table was 5th position. With Tottenham and Liverpool looking ever more comfortable above them, any higher was looking difficult.
It was City who, predictably, started the stronger of the two. With N`golo Kante missing the game through illness, Antonio Conte had effectively lost two players. Chelsea`s midfield five was more a back five, the space City were allowed in midfield let them dominate possession.
Chelsea were the last side to win at the Etihad, a repeat of that was looking unlikely. The first 15 minutes saw Chelsea concede 85% possession to their hosts. Chelsea were simply sitting back letting City do as they pleased. It was hard to imagine this was the Chelsea side that won the league last season. Conte`s tactics were simply too negative, his team were playing with a fear that Chelsea supporters are unused to seeing in their team.
The first real chance of the game came for Leroy Sane who fired at the goal, beat Courtois, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to clear off the line.That with 30 minutes gone. Oleksandr Zinchenko was fortunate to stay on the field when a foot up sliding tackle, upended Victor Moses. Referee Michael Oliver deemed that to be only a yellow card.
As the game progressed, Conte`s game plan was becoming more apparent. They were working extremely hard to keep City at bay, quite how long they keep that up was the only question. There was criticising their commitment to the cause though. Chelsea`s possession stats had increased to 21% by the end of the half, but they had not managed a shot on target. It was all very well holding City at bay, but Chelsea were capable of doing more than this against the country`s top side.
Half-time Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea`s hard work in the first half and Conte`s plan to stifle City was undone within 30 seconds of the restart. The Chelsea defence`s failure to clear a ball directly from the kick-off resulted in Bernado Silva firing past Thibaut Courtois.
Unfortunately Conte`s negative set-up was reliant on keeping a clean sheet. Like the Barcelona game, a goal put paid to the theory behind the system. Chelsea had no choice other than to take the game to the Premier League leaders. Something that could only spell disaster. Ultimately it didn’t matter because they didn’t actually bother. They say the best time to score a goal is just before half-time, it could be argued that a goal just after the break is much worse. The managers team talk was wasted.
Having got the lead, City were happy to pass the ball around and Chelsea were happy to allow them to do so. Chelsea were bereft of ideas, Conte`s negative attitude and lack of faith in his players had clearly worn them down.
We can argue all day long about whether Conte has received backing from those above or not, the lack of passion, interest and at times ability the players were showing fell at the Italians door. Despite the goal, Conte kept the same formation and his substitutes on the bench.
When Conte did make a change, on 75 minutes, it was Olivier Giroud who replaced the ineffective Willian. Minutes later Emerson replaced Pedro. With minutes to go Eden Hazard, was replaced by Alvaro Morata, Hazard was left thinking what the point of him being on the field was. He had no service and was completely out of the game. He left the field without even bothering to acknowledge his manager.
The only surprise as the game came to it`s lacklustre conclusion was that the score remained 1-0. Chelsea’s performance was abject, as was Antonio Conte`s. His time as manager is surely coming to an end. We`re Chelsea not Chester, no disrespect intended.
If this was the best Chelsea could do to overcome Manchester City after a week of planning on the training field, it was disappointing to say the least. Antonio Conte`s ‘A` game was to sit back and let his opponents dictate and dominate and allow them to do it. Writing this report up, I just feel numb. I’m afraid, it’s time to go Antonio.
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