Man City-Chelsea Verdict: Citizens Arrive As Force Vs. Mud-Stuck Blues

Jose Mourinho’s desired Chelsea dynasty won’t build or destroy itself but he must unstick the Blues, whom a refreshed Manchester City overran on Sunday at the Etihad, in order to take them higher and further into the future.

Manchester City emphatically defeated Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City won’t win the 2015-16 Premier League title after its opening two games, in which it scored six goals and conceded none. Chelsea hasn’t lost its grip on the trophy it lifted in May either. However, Sunday’s game and the teams’ respective starts show the balance of power at the top end of the Premier League standings has shifted from the royal blue of Stamford Bridge to the sky blue of the expanded Etihad Stadium.

Mourinho’s treatment of Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro dominated the build-up to the high-stakes encounter with Manchester City. Mourinho might have disputed with Chelsea’s medical staff in order to mask his team’s difficulties in pushing on from last season’s domestic triumph. Manchester City exposed the Blues’ struggles in front of a global audience.

Manchester City failed to sustain its challenge for the Premier League title last season but chose stability over wholesale changes in the offseason. Directors gave Manuel Pellegrini and backed him in the transfer market. He and his players repaid the club’s faith by delivering a performance full of zest and self-belief in front of a record home crowd.

Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho scored the goals, and Yaya Toure and Joe Hart performed with understated excellence. Every goal Manchester City has scored this season has come from refreshed players, who make up its spine. More production and better balance could come from this area in the future if Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala play well in their second season at the club or Nicolas Otemendi arrives from Valencia as an upgrade and swap for Mangala.

Chelsea’s early-season woes suggest Mourinho must rebuild the defense he inherited in 2013-14 and perfected in 2014-15. He replaced John Terry with Kurt Zouma at halftime, much to the soccer world’s surprise. Mourinho’s tactical substitution suggests he no longer is willing to deploy a deep-lying defense against domestic and European powers.

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Chelsea seeks a long-term replacement for Terry, 34, and its big-money pursuit of Everton’s John Stones suggests Mourinho doesn’t consider Zouma to be the Chelsea captain’s heir.

Chelsea’s attack also could use a makeover. Diego Costa started after sitting out the Swansea game due to a balky hamstring. Mourinho’s decision to throw Costa into the deep end, despite his abbreviated or non-existent preseason, speaks volumes about his faith in backups Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao. Mourinho still could use a world-class winger to play opposite Eden Hazard.

Chelsea’s title defense has started, but remains stuck in the mud.

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Manchester United eventually won the Premier League and UEFA Champions League title in 2007-08. That was one of the best Manchester United teams in history. This Chelsea team doesn’t look like a match for those Red Devils or last season’s Blues.

Manchester City undoubtedly will delight in its five-point lead over Chelsea and it can shoot further ahead in the title race open by repeating such performances throughout the fall. Pellegrini’s group has announced itself as the force to be reckoned with in England and it also can realistically target that elusive challenge for the Champions League title. It’s perfect timing for a club whose stadium and ambitions are growing before or eyes.