CHELSEA 0, MAN CITY 2
SERGIO Aguero reached another goalscoring milestone as Manchester City picked up the first piece of silverware before the 2018/19 Premier League season kicked off.
The Argentine striker became City’s first player to score 200 goals for the club as they beat rivals Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Community Shield.
Frequently Premier League champions suffer an adverse reaction and hangover when they start their defence, but this wasn’t the case for City who performance was ominous for their title rivals.
They were worthy winners and may have triumphed by a wider margin had their finishing been more clinical as they created plentiful chances.
Though both sides weren’t at full strength as some of the World Cup players were missing, it was still a decent workout and City manager Pep Guardiola was satisfied with the way his team is shaping up for its title defence.
He said: “It was so hard but the players played really well. Our mentality was right and we got the win, especially as the conditions were complicated with 30 degrees heat and players like Kyle Walker have only had two training sessions.
“Hats off to them. We would have liked to have been more intensive with our pressing, but it was not possible as they were exhausted. May be we could have played later in the day.
“It was a high performance we didn’t expect after only four/five days to prepare, but we are still far away from the physical conditions I want the players to be in.”
There was also special praise for 18-year-old Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva as Guardiola continued: “He is ready for the Premier League. He was last season and now he has one more year experience. It’s so good for us.
“As for Bernardo his performance today was a masterpiece.”
City, with the exception of World Cup semi-finalist Kevin De Bruyne, Spain’s David Silva and England’s Raheem Sterling, had more or less their strongest line-up.
It included new £60million signing Riyad Mahrez, who was making his first appearance for the club in this country.
Chelsea were marginally weaker with a number their World Cup players still absent – Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill, N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud.
Their side included £50 million summer signing Jorginho, Napoli’s Brazilian midfielder who had been a transfer target for City. After this game, he must be wondering whether he made the right choice of club.
Leroy Sane fired wide early on for City who made a 13th minute breakthrough through Aguero’s 200th goal for City.
Foden made a dangerous break on the right and he squared the ball to Aguero who created space on the edge of the box before shooting low past keeper Willy Caballero.
Such was the scorching heat that there was a two-minute drinks break after 25 minutes. It also enabled both managers to get over some coaching advice, notably from Guardiola who was as animated as ever.
Chelsea’s only moment of danger was from a long forward punt that bounced over the head of keeper Claudio Bravo who managed to retrieve the ball that was going narrowly wide to his relief.
City made one change at the break as Ilkay Gundogan replaced Leroy Sane.
Aguero had a great chance to double the lead soon after the restart after being released by Foden, but he dragged his shot disappointingly wide.
And the same combination linked again not long after when Foden’s sublime pass released Aguero. Caballero drove him wide and the striker eventually fired into the side netting from a right angle.
City scored a deserved second after a sweeping move involving Foden, Benjamin Mendy and Silva who threaded a pass to Aguero who beat Caballero with a low shot, his 201st goal for the club and 10th against Chelsea.
Mahrez was replaced by Gabriel Jesus after 68 minutes when a second drinks break was taken.
Aguero had a chance to complete a hat-trick, but he was foiled by a fine save low down by Caballero. It followed a deep cross from Kyle Walker that fell invitingly for the striker.
Foden, who had an excellent game, eventually succumbed to cramp as he was replaced by Brahim Diaz, another of City’s young jewels.
City’s fourth change saw defender Vincent Kompany take over from two-goal Aguero as John Stones moved forward into midfield.
The livewire Diaz had two chances to increase the lead, first firing into the side netting and then forcing a decent save from Caballero.
Jesus left David Luiz for dead before his fierce shot was beaten out by the busy Caballero.
Aymeric Laporte picked up an injury so he was replaced by Nicolas Otamendi for the final three minutes.
The chances continued in stoppage time when Diaz and Silva had great chances to add a third goal.
City brought on another young player Claudio Gomes for the last few seconds in what was a highly satisfactory workout as they lifted the Community Shield for a fifth time in 11 attempts.