Enzo Fernández against Donnarumma in the 96th minute. Hand in hand in the six-yard box after a poorly defended cross. Feint, shot, save, shot and goal from the Argentine midfielder, who furiously went to the far post to complete an action that will not get Chelsea out of its hardship but will put Manchester City in serious trouble. The 1-1 score at the Etihad at the end of the 20th matchday of the Premier consolidated Arsenal’s lead with 48 points and stopped City’s rise with 42, the same as Aston Villa, second and third classified in a championship that does not let up. Rodri Hernández knows it well, who had to hold back tears after a huge match that consumed every last drop of energy.
1
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly, Ruben Dias (Nathan Aké, min. 80), Josko Gvardiol (Abdukodir Khusanov, min. 50), Tijjani Reijnders (Jérémy Doku, min. 69), Ryan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Rodri y Erling Haaland
1
Filip Jörgensen, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoît Badiashile, Josh Acheampong (Jorrel Hato, min. 61), Reece James, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Estêvão (Andrey Santos, min. 45) y João Pedro (Liam Delap, min. 61)
Goals
1-0 min. 41: Tijani Reijnders. 1-1 min. 93: Enzo Fernández
Referee Michael Oliver
yellow cards
Reece James (min. 51), Rúben Dias (min. 53), Liam Delap (min. 78), Matheus (min. 78), Bernardo Silva (min. 92), Enzo Fernández (min. 94)
Rodri He had just returned to City’s starting team. Burdened by a very tough rehabilitation after breaking his knee, the Spaniard had not started a Premier match since September. Six months before the World Cup, after several trials, a match began again in the middle of the winter solstice, under the snow, to welcome Chelsea. The impact was immediate. Wisely escorted by Bernardo Silva, leader of the platoon of teammates who knew how to save him efforts in the midfield, the Spaniard measured his interventions with masterful criteria. He had more than enough to adjust City in the pressure and in the release of the ball, two of the phases in which his team exhibited the most deficiencies, and he also participated in almost all the plays that meant a jump into danger. Naturally, transmitting conviction, he gave a recital. Under his guidance, City went from being a very competitive team to one that also added large doses of refinement. While Rodri had energy, for an hour, Chelsea could only cover themselves under the downpour.
Calum McFarlane, coach of the B team, presided over the Chelsea expedition. The London team traveled north in a haze of din. After seven games without a victory, the owners, the American financiers of Cearlake and BlueCo, had just fired the coach, Enzo Maresca, amid scandalous rumors. Leaks intensified from Maresca’s entourage that, first, indicated that they were trying to impose lineups on him, and then, that they had contacted him from City to offer him Guardiola’s position. The major English media reproduced it: under the assumption that the Spanish coach would leave City next summer – something that Guardiola flatly denied this Friday, warning that he will fulfill the contract that ends in 2027 – someone from the Mancunian club had asked about Maresca’s availability. Considering that City’s new sporting director is Hugo Viana and Maresca’s new agent is his countryman Jorge Mendes, any speculation seems plausible. The fact is that Maresca was fired and the club that has spent the most on footballers in history – more than 1.5 billion euros in the last three years – entered the Etihad in full turmoil and 15 points behind the leader.
Expectations were dismal. The last game that Chelsea had won against City had been the 2021 Champions League final. The first half confirmed the trend. Palmer disappeared, Estevao and Joao Pedro intervened in dribs and drabs, and the defense gathered to pray around Chaloba. On the other side of the border, Rodri and Bernardo Silva controlled every detail. “The team played in an extraordinary way in all aspects,” Guardiola celebrated. “We only needed the last touch, small details in the definition area.”
Reinjders’ goal fell by decantation, as could a shot from Haaland’s post and another shot from Silva. But Chelsea resisted and the wear and tear became evident. Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, City’s two best defenders, retired with physical problems and while Rodri’s battery was draining, the team began to lose the thread of the game. The outcome reveals, once again, the essential nature of the Dias-Rodri axis in this City. Every time one has been missing, the system has broken down. “Ruben and Gvardiol’s injuries don’t look good,” lamented Guardiola.
Enzo sniffed weakness. His blow raises the morale of the troubled Stamford Bridge team but, above all, it gives Arsenal wings. The team led by Mikel Arteta can breathe a sigh of relief: if it manages to preserve the six-point cushion, next April 18, when it visits the Etihad, it will be able to afford to lose against its most feared rival.
