Enzo Maresca lost his first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea as Manchester City beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, beginning their latest title defence in style.
Man City's superior quality and game management ultimately won out in a battle between Pep Guardiola and another coach formerly under his tutelage.
It took just 18 minutes for back-to-back Premier League Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland to open his account for the new season. He collected a pass from Bernardo Silva - who survived a VAR check for offside - before bulldozing past the Chelsea defence and firing home his 91st Man City goal on his 100th club appearance.
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The Blues thought they had equalised just before the break. Ederson uncharacteristically spilled Cole Palmer's shot, with a lurking Nicolas Jackson netting the rebound. However, VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for Jackson's offside.
- As it happened: How Man City saw off Chelsea
- What did we learn from Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of Chelsea?
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The second half saw both sides trade blows and chances as impressive debutant Pedro Neto provided a spark for Chelsea. In the 65th minute, Man City thought they had added another as Rico Lewis smashed home, but a foul from Haaland on Levi Colwill in the build-up ruled the goal out.
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Another Chelsea penalty appeal went unanswered soon after as Malo Gusto's attempt to send the ball back into the area hit Mateo Kovacic's elbow. And the former Chelsea midfielder showed his former side what they were missing when he doubled their lead in the 84th minute.
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After another loose Chelsea midfield pass, Kovacic cruised to the top of the area before firing past Robert Sanchez, who for his part should have done better. The Croatian did not celebrate against his former side, but helped his current one to all three points, extending Man City's unbeaten run to 24 Premier League games.
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Team news headlines
- Enzo Maresca named Romeo Lavia - who only played 35 minutes last season after an ankle injury – in his first competitive Chelsea XI.
- Cole Palmer was also ready to start, along with Christopher Nkunku, who also missed much of last season through injury,
- Savinho made his Man City debut after an impressive loan spell for Girona last season. There was no Rodri or John Stones, Kyle Walker or Phil Foden but the England trio were on the bench, alongside Jack Grealish.
And despite the defeat, Maresca was pleased with what he had seen from his side, telling 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 the chances. Probably the big difference was inside the box. I'm quite happy in terms of performance... We don't like to lose. We just need to continue."
Player ratings
Chelsea: Sanchez (5), Gusto (6), Fofana (6), Colwill (6), Cucurella (7), Lavia (7), Caicedo (6), Enzo (7), Palmer (6), Jackson (5), Nkunku (5).
Subs: Neto (7), Guiu (5), Dewsbury-Hall (5), Veiga (n/a).
Man City: Ederson (6), Lewis (7), Akanji (6), Dias (6), Gvardiol (7), Kovacic (7), De Bruyne (7), Bernardo (7), Doku (7), Savinho (7), Haaland (7).
Subs: Foden (6).
Player of the Match: Bernardo Silva.
Neville: Chelsea lacked belief, but Maresca needs time
Sky Sports' Gary Neville speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast:
"It's quite complicated and complex, I believe there is a nucleus of good, young players, good average age. There are things that happen at Chelsea that are obscure and bizarre - the long-term contracts, to this day I can't get my head around. No one can tell me why the owners think that is the right strategy. I understand there is a financial engineering element to it too.
"They have changed manager again, they have to give him time. The reason they have done that is because they want this very clear identity and style of play. Maresca is one of Pep's disciples - he's got loads of them now - it's like Gordon Ramsey creating Michelin star chefs. Pep is producing Michelin star coaches.
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"It will take time, there will be some pain. The demands he put on his players at Leicester, in terms of playing out from the back, I thought they were a bit more cautious today. It meant they were half in, half out. They lacked real belief.
"They've got a balance issue in midfield, I thought Lavia was a real positive, but where Enzo (Fernandez) plays - he's not a natural No 10. He's not at his best in there. There are things to do. The goalkeeper was a disappointment, Sanchez was nervy.
"There will be bigger fights down the road."
Neville: Man City ready to climb again
"The two things in the last 20 minutes that were standout was their ability to control and manage the game, and the work ethic of Doku and Foden. That's the sign of a top side, the ugly part of the game.
"You watch De Bruyne sprinting back at 2-0 in the 80-something minute. We can't question their hunger. It's the least they should give, but still it's impressive, year on year. They have climbed that mountain in each of the past four years, and they've not got there and said 'phew, we've done it'. They're ready to climb back up again, it's admirable.
"Arsenal will recognise that they have a hell of a fight on again."
Sterling 'gaining clarity' on future at Chelsea
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Raheem Sterling was left out of Chelsea's matchday squad, and in a statement, said he is seeking further clarity on his future at the club.
It read: "Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years.
"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend's fixture in some capacity.
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"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea in relation to Raheem's future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.
"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem's desire to start the new season positively."
From Chelsea's perspective, it was a technical decision made by Maresca with full club support to leave Sterling out and that decision was communicated to the winger on Friday.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: "I want Sterling but I want all of them. I can't have them all so some will have to leave. In the next few days, we will see if we can clarify the situation."
And speaking to Sky Sports before the game, Maresca said: "The manager has to take decisions that people and players doesn't like - it's normal. We will see in the next days."
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Maresca: We didn't take our chances
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaking to Sky Sports:
"For me, the important thing is to create chances. We didn't score but we created chances. The first goal for them was almost offside, we almost scored. These things change results but the performance was good overall. It was quite clear, you can see a team trying to keep the ball and dominate.
"We were against the champions today. We will continue and win games. They are a master in this kind of moment. We had two or three chances. They are a master of keeping hold of the ball. The performance was there and that is the main thing. You can see how they manage the ball."
Pep: It's an honour to manage Man City
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports:
"I didn't expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news. The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us.
"We have an advantage, it's our ninth season together so we know each other well. Of course there are mistakes you have to improve but we talked, the difference in being champions was our body language, how did we behave?
"It's the bad moments in the season and in the games that define the big teams. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I'm so fortunate, I could not say more.
"There is a plan, defensive, offensive. But afterwards it's how we celebrate the good moments and come back from the bad moments.
"That's what defines these teams and no one talks about it. For a while we could never win at Stamford Bridge. This is a big step."
Haaland: Do I need to be more involved?
Erling Haaland speaking to Sky Sports:
"I want to help the team and make the team work in order to get players into good positions – to get an extra metre for the likes of Bernardo Silva. If I can stretch the centre-backs with a run, it’s hard but it’s my job.
"When you see how good all the defenders are at playing through midfield – Pep will not like me saying this – but they don’t need me to play out. I can just stand there and watch.
"I can get more involved, that’s what Pep wants but games like this do I need to be more involved? I don’t know. It’s the million dollar question.
"I want to improve with the ball. I want to give more assists. I want to become a better player not just in terms of goals."
Analysis: Defeat for Maresca - but were there any positives?
Sky Sports' Charlotte Marsh at Stamford Bridge:
"Without wanting to give too much away - yes, there were some. Maresca alluded to them in his post-match interview too.
"If you look at the stats, they were quite close. Chelsea had 48 per cent of the ball, compared to Man City's 52, and had just one fewer shot than the Premier League champions.
"In fact, Chelsea ended the game with a higher xG (1.23) and had just three fewer touches in the opposition box.
"But that also perhaps demonstrates where the Blues are lacking. There was a lack of clinical edge, with Jackson clearly needing a refresh of the offside rule. The age-old issue of Chelsea needing a consistent No 9 once again reared its head.
"Midfield too was an issue. At times, the Blues were getting pulled apart and overrun in the middle, while errors and sloppy passes cost them for both goals.
"Manchester City weren't perfect, but they certainly had the edge both up front and in midfield. It was also a classic case of managing the game when ahead, and it worked.
"We also saw some of Chelsea's new summer signings, with Neto in particular looking exciting. But as more were introduced, the Blues looked slightly disjointed and like a squad which is yet to gel.
"It is perhaps telling that Maresca began the game with no new signings in the XI, preferring to start with players who already have an understanding of one another.
"Ultimately, asking a continuously tumultuous Chelsea to beat the reigning Premier League champions on the opening day was a gargantuan task. There were some positives to take, but how they are developed going forward is now the key question."
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