Enzo Maresca suffered defeat in his first Premier League match as Chelsea manager, with Manchester City securing a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, marking an impressive start to their title defense.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring just 18 minutes into the match, collecting a pass from Bernardo Silva—who narrowly avoided a VAR check for offside—and bulldozing through the Chelsea defense to net his 91st goal for the club in his 100th appearance. Chelsea thought they had equalized just before halftime when Nicolas Jackson scored off a rebound after Ederson spilled a shot from Cole Palmer. However, the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
The second half saw both teams create chances, with Chelsea’s Pedro Neto providing a spark on his debut. City appeared to extend their lead when Rico Lewis scored in the 65th minute, but the goal was ruled out due to a foul by Haaland on Levi Colwill in the buildup.
Chelsea was denied a penalty when Malo Gusto’s attempt to send the ball back into the area struck Mateo Kovacic’s elbow, which went unpunished by the officials. Kovacic would later double City’s lead in the 84th minute, firing past Robert Sanchez after latching onto a loose pass and advancing into the penalty area. Kovacic refrained from celebrating against his former club, but his goal sealed all three points for City, extending their unbeaten run to 24 Premier League matches.
Despite the defeat, Maresca remained optimistic, stating to Sky Sports, “I think we competed very well for much of the game. We were similar, if not better. The performance was there, but we didn’t take our chances. The big difference was inside the box. We just need to continue.”
Neville: Chelsea Lacks Belief, Maresca Needs Time
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville offered insights on the situation, stating, “It’s quite complicated. There’s a good core of young players at Chelsea, but some decisions, like the long-term contracts, are baffling. No one seems to understand why the owners think that’s the right strategy.”
He emphasized the importance of patience with Maresca, noting, “Pep has produced a generation of outstanding coaches. It will take time, and there will be some pain. The players were a bit more cautious today, which resulted in a half-hearted effort. They lacked real belief.”
Neville pointed out midfield balance issues and acknowledged Lavia’s positive impact but expressed concerns over Fernandez’s positioning, saying, “He’s not a natural No. 10. There are areas to improve, including the goalkeeper’s performance, as Sanchez seemed nervous.”
“You can expect bigger challenges ahead,” he added, highlighting the road that lies ahead for Chelsea.
Credit: Sky Sports
