Manchester City’s understudies teach Chelsea a lesson on Enzo Maresca’s debut

LONDON – Pep Guardiola’s decision to give many of Manchester City’s star players more time to recover from Euro 2024 paid dividends on Aug 18, when their stand-ins helped the defending English Premier League champions to a 2-0 win at Chelsea whose coach Enzo Maresca was making his debut.

Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden – stalwarts for England on their run to the Euro final in July – were on the bench at Stamford Bridge and Spain’s Rodri was out of the squad altogether as he recovers from an injury picked up in Germany.

In came right-back Rico Lewis and winger Savinho, who both tormented Chelsea, while Mateo Kovacic, Rodri’s understudy, sealed the win with City’s second goal in the 84th minute after Erling Haaland, fresh from a whole summer off, opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

“We didn’t expect it. We are away from our best, so three points is the good news. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I’m so fortunate, I could not say more,” Guardiola said when asked about the players who stepped up.

He paid tribute to Kovacic for his role in replacing Rodri, whose absences last season coincided with City’s three defeats in the league.

“His mum and dad gave (us) an incredible human being, he is a top-class person. Top,” Guardiola said.

City are seeking a fifth straight title, having already made history by winning the past four, although they face the risk of punishment for alleged breaches of financial rules, claims that the club deny.

In contrast to City’s decision to rest their Euro stars, Chelsea started with Spain’s Marc Cucurella and England’s Cole Palmer, who both appeared in the final in Berlin on July 14.

The Blues showed flashes of the style that Chelsea’s big-spending American owners – now on their fourth permanent manager since they bought the club in 2022 – hope will bring success back to west London.

But, in the end, Maresca’s side were mostly reduced to unlikely penalty appeals and a fluffed attempt by Nicolas Jackson, before Kovacic settled the game.

Palmer – Chelsea’s runaway top scorer last season with 22 goals – was largely kept quiet by City’s defence, and new signings Pedro Neto and Marc Guiu failed to pierce the visitors’ back line.

Maresca said he saw progress and pointed to some fine margins in the game, with Haaland’s opening goal standing after a narrow offside decision went City’s way, while Jackson was adjudged offside when he scored what would have been an equaliser.

“We competed for large parts of the game,” the Italian said. “For some moments, we were even better. We created chances. And I think the big difference today between us and them was especially inside the box and the way they managed the ball in the last part of the game.”

Meanwhile, Maresca added to speculation about Raheem Sterling’s future at Stamford Bridge when he left the winger out of the squad on Aug 18, saying some players might have to move on.

“I want Raheem Sterling but I want all the 30 players that we have, but there is no space for all of them. So for some of them, they have to leave,” he said, adding the English attacker’s omission was a “technical” decision.

Sterling’s representatives issued a statement shortly before kick-off, saying the player had a good working relationship with Maresca and was committed to delivering for Chelsea.

“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,” the statement said.

“As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.”

Sterling joined Chelsea from City in 2022 but his form has blown hot and cold for much of his time at Stamford Bridge and the 29-year-old with 82 caps was not included in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
 REUTERS