Four key takeaways from Chelsea’s defeat to Man City

Chelsea’s first competitive match under Enzo Maresca ended in a defeat to Manchester City, with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic sealing the win for the champions.

Despite the loss, several insights emerged:

Chelsea’s Potential: Despite pre-season doubts and a challenging start, Chelsea showed signs of improvement. Their build-up play was more fluid than City’s, and returning players Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia demonstrated sharpness. However, issues with static defending and finishing remain.

Man City’s Resilience: With Pep Guardiola’s key players returning from an extended break, City’s victory at Stamford Bridge was notable. The win may prove crucial as City gradually finds its rhythm.

Kovacic’s Impact: Mateo Kovacic’s performance suggests he might experience the typical “second-season boost” often seen with City’s new signings. His influential play and decisive goal highlight his growing role.

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Fernandez’s Challenge: As Chelsea’s new captain, Enzo Fernandez struggled to make an impact. His initial role as a number 10 was ineffective, and he was unable to prevent Kovacic from scoring. With a high price tag, Fernandez faces significant pressure to perform.

By now, people have clocked that Manchester City’s mid-to-major signings take a year or so to really find their feet. That was true of Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and many more in the Guardiola era.

Mateo Kovacic pulled his fair share of weight on City’s road to the title last season, but he put on a show back at Stamford Bridge which suggested he’s ready to take on more of the load.

City have found it incredibly tough finding a replacement for Rodri and the answer may be that it’s simply an impossible job, but Kovacic brought the attacking upside of the Spaniard on his own in midfield here, including a thumping strike for the winner.

Fernandez’s Challenge: Following a summer of controversy, it was a surprise to many that Enzo Fernandez was handed the Chelsea captaincy in the absence of usual skipper Reece James.

On the opening day of last season, the Argentine played arguably his best game in a Blues shirt against the might of Liverpool. The story was not the same this time around.

Fernandez was initially deployed higher up the pitch as a number 10, but too often was chasing his first touch and turning backwards. When moved deeper into midfield, he allowed Kovacic to burst away from him and score the second goal of the day.

At £105m, Chelsea quite literally can’t afford for him to go through another year of treading water at best. The pressure is on for him to deliver.