Manchester City and Chelsea delivered an intense 90-minute spectacle at the Etihad, leaving both teams with positive and negative takeaways. It’s a rare sight for football fans to witness Manchester City, under the reign of Coach Pep Guardiola, both vulnerable in defense and struggling to find goals, as seen in the match against Chelsea early this morning. In the opening minutes, the home team allowed The Blues to exploit spaces and threaten goalkeeper Ederson. Consequently, former player Raheem Sterling haunted City in the 42nd minute with a deadly counter-attack.

Despite Man City’s second-half efforts, only a late Rodri goal in the 83rd minute equalized the score, even with the home side launching 31 shots at goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Guardiola and his players can find solace in earning 18 points from trailing positions, with only Liverpool performing better in comebacks in the Premier League this season. As for Chelsea, their performance in the first 60 minutes could be considered their best display of the season under coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues could have aimed for a victory if Sterling and Nicolas Jackson had been more clinical in their finishing. The persistent issue of missed opportunities remains a challenge for Pochettino to address, contributing to Chelsea’s mid-table position.

“We displayed a style of play and spirit befitting the stature of a big team today,” Pochettino remarked after the match. “I believe Chelsea will reach the level we aspire to soon, to play the best football in the world. It’s not an easy task, but today we proved that we can achieve anything with determination.”

In contrast to Pochettino’s satisfaction, Guardiola is likely displeased with his team’s performance, especially star striker Erling Haaland. It was Haaland’s first time attempting nine shots in a match in England without finding the net. Guardiola expressed confidence that Haaland will score in the next game, highlighting the striker’s extraordinary attempts.

Holding Man City, Chelsea feels content, and both Arsenal and Liverpool benefit. The dropped points make the title race more manageable for the two top teams. More importantly, Chelsea’s resilient display against Guardiola’s squad provides Arteta and Klopp with insights on countering the Manchester challenge in March.

“I will invite you to the team’s training center because tactics are something challenging to explain with just a few words or sentences,” Pochettino stated. “I understand how strong Manchester City is when playing at home. They will press you, and if you’re not resilient enough, you’ll suffer a frustrating defeat. Chelsea may not be on par with Man City, but today was our match.”

Currently sitting 10th in the standings, Chelsea may have minimal chances to lift the Premier League trophy this season. However, Pochettino’s team remains a formidable force causing trouble for any contender vying for the English football throne this year.