Ivanovic strike sinks Pellegrini's men and keeps Jose in the title hunt
MANCHESTER CITY 0-1 CHELSEA - MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM:
As Ivanovic belter hands Chelsea win to end City's home run and blow title race wide open
The quick analysis is that Chelsea have blown the title race wide open. The reality is they have done more. Much, much more. At the Etihad Stadium Chelsea exploded a myth. The myth of the Manchester City invincibles.
As Ivanovic belter hands Chelsea win to end City's home run and blow title race wide open
The quick analysis is that Chelsea have blown the title race wide open. The reality is they have done more. Much, much more. At the Etihad Stadium Chelsea exploded a myth. The myth of the Manchester City invincibles.
The quick analysis is that Chelsea have blown the title race wide open. The reality is they have done more. Much, much more.
At the Etihad Stadium Chelsea exploded a myth. The myth of the Manchester City invincibles. We have all been falling for it, week by week, this notion that City’s title challenge was about to turn into a procession. There was so much evidence, thumping victories, week after week.
And then six days ago, as their main rivals stumbled, City put five past Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
The facts, the numbers seemed overwhelming. And then up stood Jose Mourinho to confound popular wisdom once again. Chelsea started the game in third place and ended it there, too — but they showed where there is a will there is a way, even against City.
The best team won on the night and City’s vulnerabilities have been exposed.
For Mourinho it was a personal triumph. He outwitted Manuel Pellegrini, showing that a team can be solid defensively while still possessing a mighty attacking threat.
Chelsea had the best and clearest chances, City comparatively few until the final 15 minutes. David Silva came close, twice, one near miss, one fine Petr Cech save, but by then Chelsea could have been comfortable.
Potentially three up before half-time, Chelsea hit the woodwork twice in the second half, once from a long-range shot from man-of-the-match Nemanja Matic that grazed the bar, then from a Gary Cahill header that struck a post, full-on.
By playing so impressively on the counter-attack, Chelsea demonstrated that City are beatable, that this defence creaks like so many others, and that too many teams have passed this way too accepting of their fate. It was also a battle won with Pellegrini, the man he succeeded at Real Madrid.
The pair have now met on 10 occasions and Mourinho has won eight, with one draw.
It might be argued that the manager of Madrid should overcome a rival at Malaga, except two of those wins have come this season with a Chelsea squad considered inferior to City’s. It did not look that way.
This was one of Mourinho’s greatest matches in the Premier League, but the best may be yet to come, if the point Chelsea proved to inspire others from here.
