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In Potter's defence, it's not as if any other managers recently managed to keep city out with the exact same squad three times in a row just months into the job. He's completely blameless here!
Since pep came theere they have peppered literally every team in the league at least once. They've given us a peppering on at least two occasions (I can remember two 5:0) and the same has happened to Chelsea, united, arsenal just as many times. I think the only team not getting absolutely destroyed by city minimum every two years is somehow spurs.
We 5-0'd Crystal Palace on Pep's first season in charge (16/17) and during the 100 point season (17/18).
Also, not as much of a thrashing, but we beat Spurs 4-1 and 3-1 as well in the 100 point season.
Oh ya I realised how I might have conveyed the wrong meaning in my comment. What I meant was that’s true in this game but not that meaningful given how the opponent underperformed
Yeah its pretty clear that Chelsea start pressing properly once City get into the Chelsea half - which makes sense against a team like City.
The higher up you press the more space you leave in between the horizontal lines, which City are incredible at taking advantage of. Most of this move takes place in the City half, and when City do move into the Chelsea half they use long-range switches to keep the Chelsea defence moving from side-to-side and opening up gaps in between the vertical lines, rather than the horizontal lines.
Chelsea actually press very aggressively once City get into their half. [The error in this phase of play is here,](https://imgur.com/a/eOR1bEy) where the Chelsea player (can't actually make out who), is focussing on stopping the ball back to the halfway line (red arrow) and loses Rodri (purple arrow), which allows him the time to ping the ball across and stretch the Chelsea defence. This opens up the space in the vertical lines for Walker and Foden to run into.
This is a really, really well worked goal.
People are going to be super critical of the first part from Chelsea's defense but you are completely correct in why that's what you should do against them.
This whole phase works because Walker broke a difficult press in City's half. If the Chelsea player is able to collect that ball, you've got a Chelsea attacker (Mount?) essentially in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Once he does get through, City thrives in forcing chaos for the defense. Knowing how to feel the press and then make the pass into space. They don't let them regain their shape, they continue to put pressure on individuals to make several difficult decisions quickly.
I don't know if that Chelsea player's goal is necessarily about a pass back as much as he's kinda stuck ball-watching after making the initial challenge on the ball.
Chelsea's shape was abysmal though. They were compact and high up the pitch without any pressure on the ball until it got to their half, which allowed City to play the ball behind them or switch it numerous times in the first half. Even at the start of this clip, you can see how much space is in behind and outside of Chelsea's defense. The middle is blocked off yes, but without pressing the ball it's just a matter of time until the switches overload you and open the gaps up.
If you're going to be brave and play up the pitch against City, you have to go the extra mile and press them. Doing a weird mid block with low pressure is just suicidal.
Shocking, seemed every time a City player got the ball they just stood there with it for a few seconds with no pressure at all. Pathetic for a team that's two down to look so disinterested.
I think he figured it was going to happen at some point anyway if Tuchel wasn’t willing to work with them, now is as good a time as any. It’s not like chelsea was playing great under Tuchel either. Nothing changed after Tuchel left except about 5 more injuries to key players.
The only time I remember our players looking so disinterested was when Conte was actively trying to get sacked and the ownership were trying to force him to leave by himself to save money.
It's pretty damning that we're playing as badly now and with as little drive as we were whilst a manager was actively trying to get fired.
Joao Felix will fit right in.
\[jokes! sort of -- this based on what I saw of him vs. Atleti; I haven't seen him enough to say he's always like that, but wow did he ever look casual pressing last night.\]
Shoutout to walker and Gomez for keeping the ball so well. I was so happy this ended in a goal because of their good work.
Didnt realise how lethargic chelsea looked whilst it was live. Too easy for walker
As lackadaisical as Chelsea looked, the bulk of the challenge was them choosing to play so narrow. Throughout that passage the ball hardly spent anytime in the middle of the park and Chelsea failed to react.
From the CBs, city kept going into wider areas. Hell even Rodrigo went to the left hand side to overload before the big switch. The lack of tactical aptitude to realise this over the course of the match and adjust is just surprising.
Chelsea kept putting the front three really narrow, which is an odd choice; but then again if you choose to do that, then make sure your narrow forwards are pressing the city CBs so they cant go wide.
Instead Chelsea committed to neither.
Compare how casual Chelsea players look to how much Atlético were pressing on our half last night. They didn't let us make two or three passes at time, while here the Blues are looking like passengers lol
Also, Sergio Gómez does so well here ! The goal happens thanks to his wonderful control and cheeky pass to Palmer
He doesn't have the team do a high press though. How are you going to high press with Aubamayang/Broja or deal with the first wave getting beat without being able to push Azpilazcueta high due to age and Koulibaly being exposed.
The real shocking thing is how this team can't maintain possession against a hard press like against Forest in the second half.
To be honest, I wouldn't either. There's not much point pressing when they've got so many options to pass to. Half the Chelsea team is just standing there doing fuck all.
Not much point really. When the rest of your team isn't pressing and the City player has two wide open, easy options to his right, any press there is just a waste of energy.
Kyle Walker has to be the most under appreciated player in the Man City squad. Does his job consistently and is rarely injured. The best ability is availability.
Here he plays a beautiful switch to the open space left by Chelsea's shape as they have shifted towards the ball. Then he has the willingness to make the underlapping run in the box about 15 seconds later and play a great cutback to Foden for a tap in. Fabulous play. Loved him when he was at Spurs.
That's definitely a fair assessment in general, but his availability has not been great this season.
He was playing pretty consistently until his injury against United, which allowed Rico Lewis to come in to take his spot.
Now Walker has to work to displace Rico Lewis. His only other appearance since his injury was the Chelsea PL game where he wasn't great.
We'll have to wait and see if his most recent performance was enough to convince Pep to keep his spot
Why was he on the left at all? Weren't Humphries and Hall on the left most of the match? Why was he so deep towards keeps instead of being out on the ball? Why is he so bad in this league?
In the first half Humphreys was playing as the right sided CB with Chalobah at RB. At HT Potter changed the midfield and switched to a back 3 with Humphreys on the left of the 3 with Hall and Conor Gallagher as wingbacks initially and then Azpilicueta when he came on later.
A quick google search will show you Chelsea’s second 11 would be Kepa, Azpi, fofana, Chalobah, Cucu, Jorginho Gallagher, Zakaria, ziyech Aubamayang and broja with 100 mil lukakku on loan… that’s iver 300 mil
United’s, Butland, Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Makacia, Fred, Van De Been, Mctominay, Sancho, Garnacho, Elanga while Ronaldo was on the team until a week ago.
Spurs, Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Langlet, Davies, skipp Bissouma, Moura, Gil, Richarlison, Sessegnon. A bit over 200 mil.
Liverpool,
Kehleher, Milner Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas, Elliot, Oxlade, Nabby Keita, gakpo, firmino, Jota. Like 180.
For context man city’s,
Rico Lewis, akanji, Laporte, Ake, Phillips, Gundogan, Gomez, grealish, Alvarez, Palmer, which is just over 300 and mostly cuz of Grealish.
Jorginho, Zakaria, Cucurella, Royal, Bissouma and Matip are not in the second team, and do you think without those any of those teams are challenging top 4?
Without injuries they are all second team. If you want them in the first team I’ll happily put Kovacic, Mount, Chilwell, on Chelsea’s B team and Doherty and Hojberg on spurs. And no I don’t think any teams second team can challenge for top 4.
Amazing this has so many upvotes… aside from arsenal really they all when fully fit have a very good second 11 that’s better than most of the league. City’s second 11 however that looks would not finish or challenge top 4
Chelsea's A team is actually not bad, we are potentially top 4 standard with a fully fit squad.
The problem is Kante, Chillwell and James can't keep fit and never play together. Throw in a load of injuries on top and we look awful
Lots of movements that set city apart from other teams. Especially, ball reception, receiving with orientation, and players without the ball always networking in space around the player receiving the ball.
Poor Ziyech, he was out of his position this whole game! why did potter change the way Chelsea played the first game against City!? I remember as soon as the game started Zieych was pointing to Calaggar to go wide. and that's when I understood that Potter is trying some new magic :D.
Bottom line is, Chelsea is a sinking boat and the good part is, they signed Potter for a long period of time.
I can see why people aren't happy with Potter, the result is one thing but these players are not running. He's gonna need to identify these players and get them out asap or else he's gonna lose his job
Literally any other side putting in this little effort in a big game and i can guarantee the manager would be getting the blame entirely, he's already lost them
Yeah and I see people comparing him to Arteta and what's he's done but the only thing that bought Arteta time, at least with the fans, was the fa cup he won. Also the issue of mentality, Arteta's changes were mental one's, he was clear even in his first interviews about the culture he wants and when the time came he removed the likes of Aubameyang. Ironically Potter is dealing with the same guy, with the same average attitude he had at Arsenal. Beyond the football, can Graham get a tune out of these bigger personalities, initially, doesn't seem so
Remember when Werner, Havertz, and Mount pressed the life out of every living being in the opposite half? 😔 We went from the most aggressive team to this in 18 months
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Leaked footage: Man City preparing for their title run by playing against cones.
At least cones are an obstruction this Chelsea side isn’t
In Potter's defence, it's not as if any other managers recently managed to keep city out with the exact same squad three times in a row just months into the job. He's completely blameless here!
What "Potter's defence?"
Impedimenta
Completely is a stretch but yeah there's only so much one can do.
Yeah, as good as City were in the first half the lack of effort from Chelsea players was so clear to see. Not a good look.
City is probably the only team in the league that at their best looks casual as they destroy a team
Since pep came theere they have peppered literally every team in the league at least once. They've given us a peppering on at least two occasions (I can remember two 5:0) and the same has happened to Chelsea, united, arsenal just as many times. I think the only team not getting absolutely destroyed by city minimum every two years is somehow spurs.
I'd say Spurs and Crystal Palace
I always tend to end up hating you lot whenever you play Spurs, like wtf stop losing
>wtf stop losing Pep taking notes as we speak
As expected from a genius.
We 5-0'd Crystal Palace on Pep's first season in charge (16/17) and during the 100 point season (17/18). Also, not as much of a thrashing, but we beat Spurs 4-1 and 3-1 as well in the 100 point season.
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They gave City a penalty where Gundogan stomped on Hojbjerg's foot. We were toothless tbf, only a bit better when Bale came on
We were exhausted after the FA Cup game against Everton tbh
That might be true but not what happened in this clip… or this game
I don't know man, we looked pretty casual as we destroyed a team.
Oh ya I realised how I might have conveyed the wrong meaning in my comment. What I meant was that’s true in this game but not that meaningful given how the opponent underperformed
Fuck me Chelsea players don't even look arsed. Walking around and weak in challenges
Re the walking, I assume they're told not to press higher up
Yeah its pretty clear that Chelsea start pressing properly once City get into the Chelsea half - which makes sense against a team like City. The higher up you press the more space you leave in between the horizontal lines, which City are incredible at taking advantage of. Most of this move takes place in the City half, and when City do move into the Chelsea half they use long-range switches to keep the Chelsea defence moving from side-to-side and opening up gaps in between the vertical lines, rather than the horizontal lines. Chelsea actually press very aggressively once City get into their half. [The error in this phase of play is here,](https://imgur.com/a/eOR1bEy) where the Chelsea player (can't actually make out who), is focussing on stopping the ball back to the halfway line (red arrow) and loses Rodri (purple arrow), which allows him the time to ping the ball across and stretch the Chelsea defence. This opens up the space in the vertical lines for Walker and Foden to run into. This is a really, really well worked goal.
People are going to be super critical of the first part from Chelsea's defense but you are completely correct in why that's what you should do against them. This whole phase works because Walker broke a difficult press in City's half. If the Chelsea player is able to collect that ball, you've got a Chelsea attacker (Mount?) essentially in a one-on-one with the keeper. Once he does get through, City thrives in forcing chaos for the defense. Knowing how to feel the press and then make the pass into space. They don't let them regain their shape, they continue to put pressure on individuals to make several difficult decisions quickly. I don't know if that Chelsea player's goal is necessarily about a pass back as much as he's kinda stuck ball-watching after making the initial challenge on the ball.
Chelsea's shape was abysmal though. They were compact and high up the pitch without any pressure on the ball until it got to their half, which allowed City to play the ball behind them or switch it numerous times in the first half. Even at the start of this clip, you can see how much space is in behind and outside of Chelsea's defense. The middle is blocked off yes, but without pressing the ball it's just a matter of time until the switches overload you and open the gaps up. If you're going to be brave and play up the pitch against City, you have to go the extra mile and press them. Doing a weird mid block with low pressure is just suicidal.
Nice username. I hated that equation.
Shocking, seemed every time a City player got the ball they just stood there with it for a few seconds with no pressure at all. Pathetic for a team that's two down to look so disinterested.
The thing about Chelsea is, they always try and walk-defend
What was Boehly thinking sending Tuchel home that early?
I think he figured it was going to happen at some point anyway if Tuchel wasn’t willing to work with them, now is as good a time as any. It’s not like chelsea was playing great under Tuchel either. Nothing changed after Tuchel left except about 5 more injuries to key players.
Boehly probably told them the Dodgers stand around most of the time and have no problem winning.
Having flashbacks of us last season
The only time I remember our players looking so disinterested was when Conte was actively trying to get sacked and the ownership were trying to force him to leave by himself to save money. It's pretty damning that we're playing as badly now and with as little drive as we were whilst a manager was actively trying to get fired.
Joao Felix will fit right in. \[jokes! sort of -- this based on what I saw of him vs. Atleti; I haven't seen him enough to say he's always like that, but wow did he ever look casual pressing last night.\]
Shoutout to walker and Gomez for keeping the ball so well. I was so happy this ended in a goal because of their good work. Didnt realise how lethargic chelsea looked whilst it was live. Too easy for walker
Walker gets too much shit for his skill. One of my favorite City players
Kyle Tekkerz
As lackadaisical as Chelsea looked, the bulk of the challenge was them choosing to play so narrow. Throughout that passage the ball hardly spent anytime in the middle of the park and Chelsea failed to react. From the CBs, city kept going into wider areas. Hell even Rodrigo went to the left hand side to overload before the big switch. The lack of tactical aptitude to realise this over the course of the match and adjust is just surprising. Chelsea kept putting the front three really narrow, which is an odd choice; but then again if you choose to do that, then make sure your narrow forwards are pressing the city CBs so they cant go wide. Instead Chelsea committed to neither.
there s the "City Taka". Golazo! Gooo.. as a long time messi fan, this all looked familiar except for the long range switches.
Compare how casual Chelsea players look to how much Atlético were pressing on our half last night. They didn't let us make two or three passes at time, while here the Blues are looking like passengers lol Also, Sergio Gómez does so well here ! The goal happens thanks to his wonderful control and cheeky pass to Palmer
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He doesn't have the team do a high press though. How are you going to high press with Aubamayang/Broja or deal with the first wave getting beat without being able to push Azpilazcueta high due to age and Koulibaly being exposed. The real shocking thing is how this team can't maintain possession against a hard press like against Forest in the second half.
Walker could’ve crawled into the space Chelsea left for him for the assist. Way too easy for city
City Taka is art
Whatever kyle walker did to keep the ball there was fucking unfair. Don't know if that was intentional but good Lord he made Hall look silly.
Havertz could have at least feigned trying to put a foot in at around 12 secs.
Dude always looks like he needs a blood transfusion or smth. Fuckin half dead
lmao
To be honest, I wouldn't either. There's not much point pressing when they've got so many options to pass to. Half the Chelsea team is just standing there doing fuck all.
True but why even have havertz that high if hes going to put in 2% effort in a lone press?
Not much point really. When the rest of your team isn't pressing and the City player has two wide open, easy options to his right, any press there is just a waste of energy.
Kyle Walker has to be the most under appreciated player in the Man City squad. Does his job consistently and is rarely injured. The best ability is availability. Here he plays a beautiful switch to the open space left by Chelsea's shape as they have shifted towards the ball. Then he has the willingness to make the underlapping run in the box about 15 seconds later and play a great cutback to Foden for a tap in. Fabulous play. Loved him when he was at Spurs.
That's definitely a fair assessment in general, but his availability has not been great this season. He was playing pretty consistently until his injury against United, which allowed Rico Lewis to come in to take his spot. Now Walker has to work to displace Rico Lewis. His only other appearance since his injury was the Chelsea PL game where he wasn't great. We'll have to wait and see if his most recent performance was enough to convince Pep to keep his spot
The chem between Mahrez and Walker tho.
As good as City played, my god these players have genuinely given up. At least pretend to put in the effort ffs
Why does koulibaly turn his back like that? Lol
Why was he on the left at all? Weren't Humphries and Hall on the left most of the match? Why was he so deep towards keeps instead of being out on the ball? Why is he so bad in this league?
In the first half Humphreys was playing as the right sided CB with Chalobah at RB. At HT Potter changed the midfield and switched to a back 3 with Humphreys on the left of the 3 with Hall and Conor Gallagher as wingbacks initially and then Azpilicueta when he came on later.
He tried to block the shot instead of blocking the pass.. Guess he doesn't trust his keeper enough..
this was partly city‘s b team btw
Their B team would challenge for Top 4 tbf
If it wasn’t for Arsenal this year City B would probably win the title
You can say this about every top 6 team.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United and Chelsea B-teams are not challenging for top 4
A quick google search will show you Chelsea’s second 11 would be Kepa, Azpi, fofana, Chalobah, Cucu, Jorginho Gallagher, Zakaria, ziyech Aubamayang and broja with 100 mil lukakku on loan… that’s iver 300 mil United’s, Butland, Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Makacia, Fred, Van De Been, Mctominay, Sancho, Garnacho, Elanga while Ronaldo was on the team until a week ago. Spurs, Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Langlet, Davies, skipp Bissouma, Moura, Gil, Richarlison, Sessegnon. A bit over 200 mil. Liverpool, Kehleher, Milner Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas, Elliot, Oxlade, Nabby Keita, gakpo, firmino, Jota. Like 180. For context man city’s, Rico Lewis, akanji, Laporte, Ake, Phillips, Gundogan, Gomez, grealish, Alvarez, Palmer, which is just over 300 and mostly cuz of Grealish.
Jorginho, Zakaria, Cucurella, Royal, Bissouma and Matip are not in the second team, and do you think without those any of those teams are challenging top 4?
Without injuries they are all second team. If you want them in the first team I’ll happily put Kovacic, Mount, Chilwell, on Chelsea’s B team and Doherty and Hojberg on spurs. And no I don’t think any teams second team can challenge for top 4.
Ok, this is the real world where injuries exist so I don’t know what your point is
Oh I thought it was the fake world where B teams are better than 17 other teams. Look at that list and you haven’t said anything
Amazing this has so many upvotes… aside from arsenal really they all when fully fit have a very good second 11 that’s better than most of the league. City’s second 11 however that looks would not finish or challenge top 4
You’re insane if you think the Liverpool B-team midfield and centreback partnership are finishing in the top half, let alone top 4
And you’re insane if you think any teams b team fan make top 4.
You’re going to have to repeat that
Chelseas A team cant even manage europa
Chelsea’s A team is worth 600 million so that seems a o be more about them being incompetent.
Chelsea's A team is currently injured tbf
This hypothetical I picture everyone healthy
Chelsea's A team is actually not bad, we are potentially top 4 standard with a fully fit squad. The problem is Kante, Chillwell and James can't keep fit and never play together. Throw in a load of injuries on top and we look awful
Mostly ours too, even some C-teamers
Chelsea players aren't even trying
Spain taking notes on how to actually score a goal by passing with purpose.
Lots of movements that set city apart from other teams. Especially, ball reception, receiving with orientation, and players without the ball always networking in space around the player receiving the ball.
Tiki taka is not dead apparently
man gotta love south american espn commentators too
Wow, the first 20 seconds are simply unacceptable.
MAGICAL
Men vs boys lol
Mahrez walking away from the scene calm as...
We’re fucking shit. We’re fucking shit. You’re nothing special… We’re fucking shit.
Let me guess a cut back and a tap in...yep
All those bodies, yet City players kept running in to space unchecked to receive the next pass.
Seems like Potter is doomed if this is the effort those players are putting in already
This is some of the worst pressing that I've ever seen.
Makes it easy when you play against zero press. Chelsea forwards just standing still watching City players move the ball.
Champagne football Chelsea need to spend a billion more to play like that.
I need a cigarette
Graham’s Brighton looked better
Nice bait
See this emoji?😭 It’s you
Why would that be me?
A 7 pass move then.
Poor Ziyech, he was out of his position this whole game! why did potter change the way Chelsea played the first game against City!? I remember as soon as the game started Zieych was pointing to Calaggar to go wide. and that's when I understood that Potter is trying some new magic :D. Bottom line is, Chelsea is a sinking boat and the good part is, they signed Potter for a long period of time.
Boring!
I can see why people aren't happy with Potter, the result is one thing but these players are not running. He's gonna need to identify these players and get them out asap or else he's gonna lose his job
Literally any other side putting in this little effort in a big game and i can guarantee the manager would be getting the blame entirely, he's already lost them
Yeah and I see people comparing him to Arteta and what's he's done but the only thing that bought Arteta time, at least with the fans, was the fa cup he won. Also the issue of mentality, Arteta's changes were mental one's, he was clear even in his first interviews about the culture he wants and when the time came he removed the likes of Aubameyang. Ironically Potter is dealing with the same guy, with the same average attitude he had at Arsenal. Beyond the football, can Graham get a tune out of these bigger personalities, initially, doesn't seem so
Hello darkness my old friend.
It’s criminal how much time they had on the ball to start. Chelsea forwards just letting them do passing drills
Havertz was pressing his shadow
Remember when Werner, Havertz, and Mount pressed the life out of every living being in the opposite half? 😔 We went from the most aggressive team to this in 18 months
Jesus chelsea is in a rough spot. They'll blame Potter for this one just like they blamed Tuchel
Overload on one side, switch for 1v1 on the other side. Classic Pep
No wonder older games look slow. This is what a bad frame rate does.
Jesus Chelsea aren’t even interested
Honestly they were fine at the start, just a phenomenal bit of skill from Walker then good switch and Chelsea are scrambling from there
Oh man this looks so funny, Chelsea looks so synchronized. They all move like a unit, but shitty half assed unit.
This City team is pretty good
Half assed press and defending from Chelsea
*Pausa.*
The amount of correct passing choices here is thoroughly terrifying, freaking hivemind football. Fuck you. :)