MAN CITY 3, CHELSEA 1
Manchester City are inching back towards their best form as they overcame Chelsea and climbed back into the top four Champions League places.
There was more of a swagger as City’s improved form continued. Setting aside the European debacle in Paris in midweek, they have four wins and a draw from their last five league games.
While Liverpool and Arsenal are well clear at the top, City are firmly back in the mix for the two remaining Champions League places.
But with only one point separating fourth and seventh and four between third and seventh, it is going to be quite a scrap for the European places.
It was a match in which City showed grit, determination and resilience after falling behind to a third minute goal from Noni Madueke after a blunder by new boy Abdukodir Khusanov.
They battled back with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland’s 24th of the season and Phil Foden to secure three big points.
City manager Pep Guardiola said: “We struggled lately, and it has been a tough, tough season. Most players have been here eight or nine years, and I am not going to change my opinion in two months.
“We have to realise it is not enough what we are doing. I ask them to step up and we did it. We created enough chances to score goals and, in the end, I am really pleased for the victory.
“Of course, we need fresh legs with Omar [Marmoush] and Khusanov and now we have a final Champions League game on Wednesday.”
Guardiola admitted City were lucky not to fall 2-0 behind in the opening stages saying Cole Palmer is usually a “machine” in those scoring situations.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, whose side slipped to sixth, said: “The game started very well for us. We scored the first one and could have scored the second goal two or three times. The game would have completely changed. We missed.
Embed from Getty Images“The team was there but in the last minutes we conceded for 1-1. The second goal changed the game. Robert [Sanchez] is the first one [to admit] he knows he has to do better. Working hard every day [is the way to improve]. We try to have conversations with all of them.
“We are making progress. We are better than one or two months ago. These moments will make us better.”
City made three changes from the side beaten by PSG in midweek.
There were debuts for new signings Marmoush and Khusanov and a recall for Ilkay Gundogan.
Vitor Reis, the third new arrival at the Etihad this week as part of a £123million spending spree, was named on the bench.
City made an emotional tribute to three former players who have died this month – Tony Book, who later became manager, Denis Law and Bobby Kennedy.
There was an electrifying start as after only 61 seconds Marmoush almost scored as his fierce shot was beaten out by keeper Robert Sanchez, though replays suggested he could have strayed offside.
At the opposite end, there was a nightmare start for Khusanov.
The Uzbekistan international’s weak header back to Ederson was intercepted by Nicolas Jackson who squared the ball for Noni Madueke to have a simple tap in for his eighth goal of the season.
Khusanov was minutes later booked for bringing down Cole Palmer as he burst past him as his misery continued.
Palmer raced clear again and, instead of shooting, he squared the ball to Jackson who was crowded out before cutting the ball back to Jadon Sancho whose shot was charged down by Ederson.
In a crazy opening 10 minutes, Phil Foden also crashed a shot against the upright.
The game eventually settled as City probed for a way back. Gvardiol had a chance when a Bernardo Silva cross was flicked on to him by Haaland. He cut back inside from the left of the box before blazing over.
City thought they had levelled when Marmoush found the net only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Gundogan’s initial effort was spilled by Sanchez with the Egyptian having strayed offside.
Gvardiol also found himself clean through only to poke a shot narrowly wide.
City finally levelled in the 42nd minute when Matheus Nunes ran clean on to Gundogan’s long forward pass. He was blocked by Sanchez but the ball ran free for Gvardiol to slot home his fifth goal of the season.
And they almost snatched the lead shortly after the restart when Levi Colwill failed to cut out a long ball allowing Haaland to race clear only for Sanchez to make a great block.
City made their first change in the 53rd minute as Khusanov was replaced by John Stones.
Haaland set up Marmoush whose shot flew narrowly wide.
City were ahead with 22 minutes left after another error by Sanchez who raced out to make a clearance and, realising he was not going to get Ederson’s long ball, began to retreat enabling Haaland to lob the keeper who was stranded in no-man’s land,
Kevin De Bruyne for Marmoush was City’s second change with 16 minutes left.
City sealed victory in the 87th minute when Haaland provide the assist with a lay-off for Foden to race clear from the centre circle to slot a shot low past Sanchez, his 10th of the season.
It was perfect preparation for Wednesday’s must-win Champions League game against Club Brugge.