MAN CITY BEATS CHELSEA.
— Despite the tight turnaround after the World Cup, Manchester
City’s attacking ruthlessness has not been blunted by fatigue
or the English heatwave. Winning the Community Shield
demonstrated that beyond any doubt on Sunday.
Three weeks after the World Cup finished, the Premier League
champions opened the new season by collecting more
silverware. Sergio Aguero scored twice — once in each half for
his record-extending 200th and 201st goals for City — as FA
Cup holder Chelsea was beaten 2-0 in the traditional curtain
raiser to the English season at Wembley Stadium.
“The heat today was so tough,” City manager Pep Guardiola
said. “So demanding.”
While it has been a summer of continuity at City after a record
100-point Premier League haul, Chelsea has gone through
more turmoil in recent weeks.
“Our preseason until now has been crazy,” Chelsea manager
Maurizio Sarri said. “So we have to work.”
The former Napoli coach has had only a couple of weeks to
work on his new Chelsea squad after the protracted firing of
Antonio Conte, abandoning his fellow Italian’s preferred
3-4-2-1 formation for 4-3-3.
Although Conte won the FA Cup at Wembley in May, he paid
the price for Chelsea’s slump from league winners to fifth
place, leaving the 2012 Champions League winners out of
Europe’s elite competition this year. City finished 30 points
ahead of Chelsea.
AGUERO AT THE DOUBLE
City had already wrapped up its third Premier League title in
six years when Aguero underwent surgery on his left knee in
April. The striker was fit for the World Cup, but Argentina was
eliminated in the round of 16, ensuring he left Russia two
weeks before the tournament ended.
“He arrived (back at City) so sharp, so good,” Guardiola said.
“With him and Gabriel (Jesus ) we are good in that position.”
Aguero’s second goal against Chelsea completed a
counterattack in the 58th minute. John Stones gained
possession inside his own half, Ilkay Gundogan advanced
with the ball and Bernardo Silva then threaded a pass through
to Aguero, who netted his 201st goal.
WORLD CUP WINNERS
Although England missed out on World Cup glory in Russia —
losing in the semifinals to Croatia — the country still did win a
World Cup in the last year. Two of the 2017 under-17 world
champions are finally getting game time with their clubs and
seized their opportunities at the national stadium.
When Chelsea did threaten City’s goal it often owed much to
winger Callum Hudson-Odoi creating danger on the left flank.
And midfielder Phil Foden helped to create City’s opener,
surging forward in the 13th minute before squaring for Aguero,
who struck into the bottom corner.
“Now he is more mature and he is part of the first team,”
Guardiola said of the 18-year-old Foden. “It’s good because
he is a Manchester City fan and people love him.”
TRANSFER WINDOW
Resolving the managerial situation hasn’t ended uncertainty
around Chelsea. Both goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and
midfielder
Eden Hazard are still on their breaks after helping Belgium to
finish third at the World Cup. It’s unclear if they will play for
Chelsea again, with the duo linked with moves to Real
Madrid.
Courtois’ agent was quoted as saying over the weekend that
the goalkeeper, who was sent to Atletico Madrid on loan for
three years, now wants to move back to the Spanish capital to
be close to his children.
Sarri wants to hear the message directly from Courtois.
“I am not interested in the agent,” Sarri said. “If Courtois will
tomorrow tell me the same, I will have to speak to my club of
course. I want only players with a high level of motivations. I
have (nothing) to answer to the agent.”
Premier League clubs have until Thursday to sign players after
the close of the transfer window was brought forward to
before the season opens. The summer trading period for most
European leagues still closes on Aug. 31 as usual.
City has already broken its transfer record, signing Riyad
Mahrez last month for 60 million pounds (then $80 million).
The former Leicester winger played 68 minutes against
Chelsea but will take time to settle in the side.
PREMIER LEAGUE OPENERS
Chelsea opens its campaign at Huddersfield on Saturday, and
City is back in London next Sunday to face Unai Emery’s
Arsenal.
