When the heat came, this Manchester City side went up a gear and didn’t wilt
When the heat came, this Manchester City side went up a gear and didn’t wilt Manchester City entered halftime of their Premier League match against Chelsea yesterday with the game level at nil-all. Marc Cucurella had seen a goal ruled out for offside in the 16th minute, and Gianluigi Donnarumma made a strong save to keep out Pedro Neto minutes later in what was the best chance of the first half. City weren’t poor by any stretch in the first half of yesterday’s match at Stamford Bridge.
With the game locked at nil-all, Pep Guardiola’s side had to up the ante with the pressure on them to capitalize on Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth. City did just that with a powerful second-half display to leave Stamford Bridge with three points and a 3-0 win . When the pressure came, Manchester City stood up and didn’t wilt.
In the process, they also showed that they are ready for what lies ahead. When yesterday’s match was there to be won, Manchester City raised their play to pick up a massive three points. It was evident as soon as the second half of yesterday’s match began that Manchester City had raised their level of play.
There was real intent in City’s play, and they knew the task in front of them. They needed a goal to take the lead and likely knock the stuffing out of Chelsea. It arrived in the 51st minute when Nico O’Reilly headed home a Rayan Cherki cross to give City the lead.
From the moment Nico O’Reilly’s header hit the back of the net, it was apparent that there would only be one winner in the match between Manchester City and Chelsea. Marc Guehi would show the composure and finishing ability of a striker to double Manchester City’s lead in the 57th minute at Stamford Bridge. Jeremy Doku pressed Moises Caicedo into error in the 68th minute and beat Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez with a composed finish to make it 3-0.