Chelsea suffered a routine 2-0 defeat on Sunday against the top team in the Premier League, with neither side producing much spectacle. Both teams, focused on playing controlled football, seemed indifferent for much of the match, with moments of excitement occurring sporadically. Many players on both sides were making their first significant appearances of the summer, which was evident in their performances. The fans' reactions were more animated than the game itself!
For Manchester City, it was a job well done. For Chelsea, there’s still work to be done. The key difference between the teams was in execution, particularly in the final third. Enzo Maresca highlighted this point in his post-match analysis.
Enzo Maresca commented on the game, saying, “I think the performance was good. We don’t like losing, but the performance was there. We competed against the best team in the world, matching them for large parts of the game, and at times, we were even better.
“We created chances, but the big difference was in the box and how they managed the ball in the final moments of the game; they are masters at that. Overall, I think the performance was quite good.
“We were better than in the last game against Inter, which is what matters most to me—improving game after game. It’s clear we are moving in the right direction. I have no doubt this team is getting better, and we will have days where we win games and experience great joy.”