Manchester City kicked off their Premier League campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The match was notable not only for the result but also for the storylines surrounding key players and managers.Erling Haaland, City’s prolific striker, continued his impressive form by scoring his 91st goal in just 100 appearances for the club. The goal came in the 19th minute and was particularly sweet for Haaland, as it served as a response to Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella’s mocking song during the Euro 2024 celebrations. Haaland’s goal demonstrated his strength and clever finishing, putting to rest any doubts about his ability to maintain his goal-scoring prowess.City’s second goal came from Mateo Kovačić, securing the win for the reigning champions. However, the victory was slightly marred by an injury to new signing Savinho, who was forced off at halftime after providing an assist for Haaland’s goal.The match also marked a significant moment for both managers. Chelsea’s new coach, Enzo Maresca, formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, faced his old mentor in this high-profile encounter. This added an intriguing tactical dimension to the game, as both managers are known for their innovative approaches.Perhaps the most surprising development of the match was the exclusion of Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling from the squad. This decision by Maresca led to a statement from Sterling’s representatives, seeking clarity on the player’s future at the club. The statement emphasized Sterling’s commitment to Chelsea and his positive pre-season under the new coach, making his omission all the more puzzling.
Key points
- Manchester City defeated Chelsea 2-0 in their Premier League opener, with Erling Haaland scoring his 91st goal in 100 games for City.
- Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling was surprisingly left out of the squad, leading to a statement from his representatives seeking clarity on his future.
- The match marked a significant moment as Chelsea’s new manager Enzo Maresca, formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant, faced his old mentor.
Contradictions👾While most sources report a 2-0 victory for Manchester City, one source mentions only Haaland’s goal without reference to a second goal.
This discrepancy might be due to the timing of the reports or incomplete information in some sources.
