≈ was held to a 4-4 draw by Chelsea in a match where they still demonstrated their inherent resilience. However, the defensive line of the Sky Blues was in disarray against Chelsea’s madness. This is the type of match that Coach Pep Guardiola is extremely opposed to, as it goes beyond all his predictions.
A crazy game Before the epic battle between Chelsea and Man City, even the most optimistic Chelsea fans probably didn’t think their team could play on par with the reigning champions.
Man City still shows formidable form on all fronts this season and shows no signs of “slowing down” after securing a historic treble in the previous season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has been in a constant crisis since the end of the Roman Abramovich era. Despite the billions new owner Todd Boehly spent to revamp the squad completely, five different managers have yet to bring the team back to its former glory.
Although highly regarded, Mauricio Pochettino struggles to find the best way to rejuvenate Chelsea. Despite helping The Blues have some recent standout performances, especially in big matches, he has not truly mastered the situation.
In fact, in this match, Man City still played more dominantly. They took the lead three times and subdued the home team. But Chelsea’s “madness” erupted, and the Sky Blues could only secure 1 point leaving Stamford Bridge.
Man City’s defense had a less-than-stellar day, allowing Chelsea’s attackers to beat. It seemed they didn’t expect The Blues’ seemingly lackluster offense to transform into formidable goal scorers suddenly.
And perhaps Man City didn’t expect Chelsea’s fighting spirit to be so resilient. Trailing three times and conceding goals at crucial moments, they still did not crumble. The drama peaked when Cole Palmer scored the equalizing goal 4-4 from the penalty spot in the 90+5th minute.
What Pep fears the most is this is the type of match that Coach Pep Guardiola is extremely opposed to, as it goes beyond all his predictions. A strategist like Guardiola wants everything to go according to plan. He will prepare all possible scenarios and situations before the match starts, enjoying the players to ensure everything stays “on track.”
But, of course, not everything will always go according to Pep’s calculations. He is not a deity who can control every match according to his will. There will be matches where Pep cannot foresee the outcome. The unbelievable 4-4 draw against Chelsea is the most apparent evidence.
According to Opta statistics, this was Pep Guardiola’s 882nd match as a coach and the first time he witnessed his team score and concede 4 goals in a game. It is rare for Guardiola’s teams to concede so many goals, as a solid defense was the foundation of his success at Barcelona and Bayern before moving to Man City.
The last time Man City had such a chaotic match in the Premier League was a 3-3 draw with Newcastle at the beginning of the previous season. Matches like this have caused Man City difficulties in conquering titles.
The 4-4 draw leaves Man City only 1 point ahead of the teams behind them, Liverpool and Arsenal. Of course, the draw is not too disappointing as the Sky Blues have consistently maintained high performance from the middle of the season onward.
However, this match is a sign of Man City’s vulnerability that opponents can exploit, especially if they play explosively like Chelsea. It’s worth remembering that in the next two Premier League matches, Man City will have to face Liverpool and Tottenham. If Chelsea succeeds, The Kop and Spurs can certainly do the same.
