Chelsea 1-3 Man City: The one where reality set in

Kevin de Bruyne reminding Chelsea what could have been 

There had been more than a good chance that Chelsea's must-win crunch clash with Manchester City was going to be called off on Sunday afternoon. Six of City's first team along with a development squad player and staff members had all tested positive for Covid. Their previous match against Everton had been postponed while their training ground had been temporarily closed for a deep clean. As the match approached these positive results were revealed along with a breach in protocol from Benjamin Mendy. 

But Man City agreed to crack on, handing their young American goalkeeper a Premier League debut and Pep Guardiola full of confidence that his squad depth was more than enough to beat a struggling Chelsea side. In fairness, including the keeper, Guardiola only had to make three changes in total to his covid riddled squad. Which is fewer changes than he normally makes to his team.

As for Frank Lampard's lineup, he handed Cesar Azpilicueta his 400th Chelsea appearance. The most of any overseas outfield player in the club's history. An amazing accomplishment by the captain. But more importantly, both Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham are starting from the bench as Timo Werner has been returned to his actual position of centre forward. No pressure - not like it's one of the best teams in Europe. In other players in their correct position news, Christian Pulisic was restored to the left while Hakim Ziyech returns to the starting XI and takes on the right. A pacy front three to say the least and a huge opportunity for Werner to remind everyone how brilliant he is. Unfortunately, Man City's defence had other ideas.

Twenty minutes in, and Chelsea found themselves two goals down. And should have been three had Kevin de Bruyne not have a rare off moment and fire wide of the goal first. Fine efforts from both Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, so not to take anything away from either of them. But if we're all being really honest with ourselves - Edouard Mendy probably should have saved both. Apologists and Kepa haters alike will be blinded by him simply not being the young Spaniard. However, it may finally be time to admit that he is at best, an average goalkeeper himself. And there have been a number of goals before Sunday's clash with City that he could have and should have done better on.

Kevin de Bruyne added a third before the break as he can't stop scoring against Chelsea. Underlining one of Jose Mourinho's biggest ever mistakes in judgement - and he's had a few to choose from. Despite Chelsea being the brighter of the two sides to start, the positivity fell away the moment things started to gel for the visitors. Overrun in midfield, shocking defending, and like that Chelsea find themselves three goals down at the break without looking much like they'll be able to turn it around.

The second half played out with any further damage to Chelsea's pride beyond little N'Golo picking up a suspension for the next game after another yellow card. Whether the team were more purposeful or Man City just eased off because with a three goal cushion you have that sort of luxury, no one will really know. But with Callum Hudson-Odoi's very late goal, technically, Chelsea won the second half. By and large meaningless, but didn't seem a possibility after how the opening 45 minutes played out.

Potentially, with the question mark of the match potentially getting called off due to the Citizens Covid outbreak subconsciously played on the minds of the players. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on everyone's stress levels - and despite their flash cars and huge wages - footballers are actually people too. And while that pay check seems like a magic button that should make immune to injury, verbal abuse and bat-based diseases, it does impact them as well.

N'Golo Kante had a rare poor showing - and seems to have re-aggravated the injury problems that plagued him last season. His midfield partner Mateo Kovacic also ensured that Chelsea looked completely overrun in midfield. These are the sorts of matches senior players need to step up and it was strange seeing the duo so woefully out of their depth. Expect Billy Gilmour to start next weekend.

Before I head off to eat all my feelings about this current dip in form - just a reminder that Chelsea signed six new starting players from four different leagues. That's more than half a team. While some are wily old veterans, sorry Thiago, the others are new and inexperienced themselves. Who are playing alongside some fairly new faces. They've had no pre-season together at all. And on top of all that, Frank Lampard is still new to management as well.

This season was never going to be some perfect run to all the trophies - no matter how much money was spent. It is a project and it takes time. Jurgen Klopp asked for four to five seasons for his project and he is an established highly rated manager, who'd inherited a stable team, having the luxury to make changes as and when. Frank Lampard has built for the future, not for the now. There is a lot of talent to juggle and adapt to the new league and teammates. 

Having seen the brilliance of Kevin de Bruyne's performance against Chelsea on Sunday epitomises everything wrong with the reactionary, petulant behaviour of certain sections of fans wanting to see players dumped or Frank Lampard sacked. Stop throwing your toys out of the pram - it can't always be instant success. The Belgian was callously dumped by Jose Mourinho despite his potential. He's now one of the Premier League's greatest ever players - and he could have been doing it alongside Eden Hazard in London. There will be mistakes and defeats along the way - but it will come together. And when it does it will be very special.

jb x

RESULT: Chelsea 1-3 Man City

GOALS: Gundogan 18, Foden 21, De Bruyne 34, Hudson-Odoi 92

CHELSEA XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Zouma, Silva, Kante (Gilmour 64), Kovacic (Havertz 77), Mount, Pulisic, Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 64), Werner

STAR MAN: Kevin de Bruyne