Not able to play last midweek at Everton, Manchester City were only required for half of this game. By the midway point it was all over.

By then we had already seen what we needed to from City – signs of a resurgence, of fight and of life. From Chelsea we saw what we feared we might. They look like a team in reverse, a bunch of players cowed by the responsibility of what is supposed to be a rebuild.
City really were lovely to watch during a spell of half an hour as early evening fell in west London. They were swift and fluid and deadly. Chelsea merely looked like the rest of the nation currently feels. Tired and apprehensive.

We would expect a genuine title challenge from Pep Guardiola’s City after this. Following the postponement of last Tuesday’s game on Merseyside, City’s fixture schedule looks daunting but nothing else should alarm them.
Not Liverpool, not an improving Manchester United. Even with players missing – they lost six to Covid 19 for this game – they are good enough.
Chelsea and their manager Frank Lampard cannot dare to look that far ahead. They have won one of their six Christmas and New Year games and lost four of the other five.
Four points from eighteen have taken them south and if Southampton take anything from tonight’s home game with Liverpool Lampard’s team will be ninth in the Premier League.
The worry for Chelsea is that this was not even close. They were only competitive for quarter of an hour. Once City took the lead through Ilkay Gundogan Chelsea fell apart.
This is not an easy time to play football. As the country slogs desperately against the Covid tide, a little of that struggle is beginning to be reflected on fields across the land. Weary players asked to play and live in an alien environment look like they are feeling the weight of the challenge in their minds and legs a little.
So it will be the strongest who propel their teams forward until we enjoy better days and Chelsea simply didn’t have enough of them here.
Playing without a natural centre forward – Timo Werner was asked to fulfil the role – they were given absolutely no platform by a midfield trio of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
Mount looks to have a future at Stamford Bridge, a young player who should continue to improve. But Kante looks half the steady, easy player we know and love while Kovacic simply waded through concrete in this game. By the time the second half rolled around, he may as well not have been playing.
Robbed of the ball by City’s Rodri in the 51st minute, Kovacic couldn’t summon the will to chase. City could have scored. Then, after failing to tackle Gundogan successfully just after the hour, the Croatian turned away with his arms raised, a little like a toddler denied his favourite rattle.
Soon after he was booked for a foul on Kevin de Bruyne and 13 minutes from the end he was taken from the scene. In terms of body language, none of it was good.
And that was reflected through much of Lampard’s team. His front three of Werner, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech did not lay a glove on City’s back four while at the other end of the field their tall central defender Kurt Zouma was twice outmuscled by the smaller Phil Foden, who was excellent.
Lampard’s post-match countenance was one of simmering agitation. He knows what he has seen in recent setbacks against City, Arsenal, Wolves and Everton and he knows that it is in danger of becoming the norm. If it does then he will be gone.
We are not that stage yet and we should not be either. Lampard made a relevant point when saying it took City years to reach the levels they occupy now.
But equally he will know that this was a bad way to lose a football game. There were times in the first half when City looked as though they could score at will. The third goal was particularly bad, Kante giving the ball away in the centre of the field only to realise there were no team-mates behind him as sky blue shirts flooded up field.
When it was Chelsea’s turn – when they did have moments as City sat back in the second half – they did not show the necessary appetite or conviction.
On one occasion they over loaded City’s defence on the left but when the ball was played across to the far post Ziyech had simply chosen not to attack the space. Only he will know why.
So Chelsea look like a side in need of a break and they are not alone in that. They will get one of sorts when they face Morecambe in the FA Cup on Sunday. Lampard will rest players for that and his team’s next game does not arrive until Friday January 15 at Fulham.
Lampard, then, has some time to work with his key players on the training field. It is a rarity this season and Chelsea look like a team in desperate need of it.
Improvement must come soon if all of last season’s progress isn’t to be crushed by the fall out of yet another change of Chelsea manager.
OluwakayodeAdewusi
0
Like what quadruple and 100 point kid😂
Don't be salty nigga yeah u won domestic trophies but the main point is he haven't won European trophy and am sure the board spend more because the want European trophy
ManCityFanForever
0
all with money ur team can't achieve what liverpool and klopp has achieved
Like what quadruple and 100 point kid😂
OluwakayodeAdewusi
0
Champions league sorry quadruple and 100 points PL club has ever achieved. Only great Man City
all with money ur team can't achieve what liverpool and klopp has achieved
vodackrt
1
ManCityFanForever
0
guy what do you mean by crap it all about time and u talk about city spent 250+ but isn't it for the champions league but have u gotten it mtcheew...I can't blame you it because of lampard inexperience
Champions league sorry quadruple and 100 points PL club has ever achieved. Only great Man City
OluwakayodeAdewusi
0
You are the people who crying when City were spending money. But what about now 250+ still crap lmao
guy what do you mean by crap it all about time and u talk about city spent 250+ but isn't it for the champions league but have u gotten it mtcheew...I can't blame you it because of lampard inexperience
ManCityFanForever
0
u need to see things clear because all u talk about is money like city don't spend much too
You are the people who crying when City were spending money. But what about now 250+ still crap lmao
rusclprs
1
Nonsense, get him sacked.
OluwakayodeAdewusi
0
After spending £250M on this Diffensive striker from Germany, a pregnant sick girl from Ajax and a Toothpick from LEVERKUSEN ( Lines Man ) they still concedes useless goals with no short on target 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
u just hating I guess
OluwakayodeAdewusi
0
Money can’t buy you trophies, you need Brain too.
u need to see things clear because all u talk about is money like city don't spend much too
ManCityFanForever
2
Money can’t buy you trophies, you need Brain too.
Hewbdkostz
0
daddyliverpool
3
I'm a liverpool fan but city remains a major contender for the tittle ,truth be spoken
▫️T▫️▫️▫️MOBILE
0
Ur profile is a monkey
@Afy ban this user
Nwaudoye2020
0
After spending £250M on this Diffensive striker from Germany, a pregnant sick girl from Ajax and a Toothpick from LEVERKUSEN ( Lines Man ) they still concedes useless goals with no short on target 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Hahaha 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣👌
rokadlpu
0
It's time Oli looks elsewhere to showcase his football instead of wasting his talent on FL's bench. It's very annoying indeed for a coach to stubbornly field weak players just bcs of their price tags.
Somuchluv
0
Lampard lacks managerial factor... with all the money spent on Werner, ziyech and hervrtz he cant bring that good food to Chelsea. hervertz is too sluggish as a winger, Werner too has gotten the reason why he came to Chelsea... we dont pay u money to play nonsense... let Lampard use tomori instead
Andy_Mac
0
Lampard how can you put Werner up front when you have abraham and giroud scoring goals am starting losing confidence on you.
True. He should have started Giroud again who had a strong performance in recent games. There's no excuses for that. Timo Werner isn't ready to lead the line for Chelsea. Massive selection blunder which is part of the reason why Chelsea lost. The other reason is the poor work ethic of players which again is down to the manager.
kimmworld
1
What a win for Man City What a defeat for Chelsea
AKNymar11
0
After spending £250M on this Diffensive striker from Germany, a pregnant sick girl from Ajax and a Toothpick from LEVERKUSEN ( Lines Man ) they still concedes useless goals with no short on target 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Ur profile is a monkey
wezdlry
3
chelsea is too big for lampard he shld resign
buoabelopt
0
Lampard how can you put Werner up front when you have abraham and giroud scoring goals am starting losing confidence on you.
you were the only ones criticising him when he played Werner as a winger,out of his natural striking position 🤣🤣🤣🤣
kubbdeikoy
1
Lampard how can you put Werner up front when you have abraham and giroud scoring goals am starting losing confidence on you.
kayapeople
1
Frank lampard is not a premier league manager. with all the money spend last summer. nothing new from last season accept the money spend
AntiRacist1992
2
Klopp after knocking out Lampard ::: Manchester United is the real Title contender 😂😂😂😂
CHARTYBOY
2
the citizens are back i repeat the citizens are back
Nwaudoye2020
4
After spending £250M on this Diffensive striker from Germany, a pregnant sick girl from Ajax and a Toothpick from LEVERKUSEN ( Lines Man ) they still concedes useless goals with no short on target 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Rozeloprt
2
new manager for chelse
PhilipJR01
1
Frank Lampard :I need another 250mil....dont look at me like it's my fault