The Chelsea vs Manchester City fixture saw Thomas Tuchel's men dominate Pep Guardiola & co. on three occasions in the 2020/21 season.
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The football rivalry of Chelsea vs Manchester City is one that, while fierce on field, is relatively shorn of hostilities off it. The similar nature of both sides might have something to do with it. Both are clubs that rose to the top with the help of billionaire owners. Both are also seen as cases of new money triumphing against the establishment. And both are also two of the most successful sides in England during recent seasons. In fact, the Premier League title battle has more often than not come down to these two sides. Last season, in fact, the clubs met on four seperate occasions.
And interestingly, on three of those occasions, it was Chelsea who triumphed over the Premier League champions. As the two sides are set for a mouth-watering clash this weekend, we look back at their previous season’s encounters.
The first clash between the two teams last season did not end well for Chelsea – and then-manager Frank Lampard. Already under pressure due to stuttering league form despite a massive summer outlay, he needed a result when Chelsea hosted City. And that is exactly what he did not get.
City ran out 3-1 winners but truthfully the scoreline could have been much worse. Lampard’s reign never truly recovered from there on, even though he did stay in charge a few more games. He was gone by the end of January, and in came Thomas Tuchel. As did an immediate change in Chelsea’s fortunes.
Tuchel is someone who’s taken inspiration from Guardiola’s style of management. Guardiola, in turn, has tremendous respect and admiration for Tuchel. Yet, when the two managed together in Germany, Guardiola never once lost a match to a side coached by Tuchel. That all changed when the two sides met in the FA Cup semi-finals earlier this year.
It was an important match for both sides. City were still in with the chance of doing a first-time-ever recorded quadruple. Chelsea, meanwhile, were keen to go the distance and add silverware to a season which, at one point, was in danger of fizzling out.
In the end, it took a goal from Hakim Ziyech – assisted by Timo Werner – to seal the 1-0 win for Chelsea. Tuchel had his first-ever win over Guardiola at long last. Perhaps more importantly, he also had a chance to win a first trophy with Chelsea – and end the season on a successful note.
The two sides played out their second league match of the season with minimal stakes. Chelsea seemed set for a top-4 finish and City were on their way to being crowned champions. However, the two sides would end up playing out an entertaining encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Not that City fans would have enjoyed the match, of course!
City took the lead towards the end of the first half when Raheem Sterling was set up by Sergio Aguero. Yet it was Aguero who, unintentionally, gave Chelsea a way back into the game. City won a penalty which Aguero stepped up to take. Yet his Panenka penalty was easily spotted by Edouard Mendy, who stood still and collected the chipped shot. Oops.
That the game wasn’t killed off at that point gave Chelsea hope. And it was hope they capitalised on in the second half when Hakim Ziyech – yes, him again – equalised for the Blues. The winner arrived in dramatic fashion, Chelsea pushing forward in injury time. Timo Werner played in a good ball that wing-back Marcos Alonso finished well to seal the three points. And, in the process, put a halt to the title celebrations in the blue side of Manchester.
The final Chelsea vs Manchester City encounter of the previous season came in perhaps the biggest game of club football – the Champions League final. Incidentally, this was the first all-English final since 2008, which was also contested by Chelsea – against City’s neighbours, Manchester United. On that occasion, Chelsea had come up short.
However, there were to be no such glitches this time around. Chelsea’s tactical set-up not only nullified City’s attack but also found ways to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses. One such moment saw Mason Mount free in space and with the time to weight a sumptuous through ball to Kai Havertz.
The German, who struggled in his debut season for the club but has begun to show sparks of life, seized the chance. He rounded Ederson and slotted the ball home into the empty net. Chelsea solidly defended the lead, giving City no chance at striking back. And they were Champions of Europe once again.
