Cityzens thrash Chelsea as pressure mounts for Potter

A first-half lesson from City proves sufficient to sink Chelsea out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for both sides, piling yet more pressure on Graham Potter after recent poor form.

Pep Guardiola drastically changed things up from just a few days ago when they went up against Graham Potter's side in the league, with just three players keeping their starting spot. This did not seem to affect the Cityzens, as they were on the front foot from the start. Their pressure was soon rewarded with the opener, after Riyad Mahrez fired in one to remember. After winning a foul around 25 yards out from Kepa's goal, the Algerian international curled a stunner right into the top corner, into what must have been just about the only part of the goal which the Chelsea keeper was unable to defend. 

City were not contented with just the singular goal, as expected, and Guardiola's men soon found themselves with the chance to go two up. After Havertz initially got away with a handball in his box, the red mist soon descended after the referee was advised to check the VAR. Any doubt was immediately eradicated, and Julian Alvarez was the one entrusted with the spot-kick, making no mistake, firing past an outstretched Kepa arm who guessed correctly. The festivities continued for Argentina's World Cup winner Alvarez.

Of course, Guardiola encouraged his side to consolidate their existing lead even more, despite not suffering much pressure from their visitors. His wishes were soon granted, as Foden simply finished off a great move to make it three. The Englishman danced around Chelsea's midfield before offloading, he then made his way into the box, lying in wait for compatriot Kyle Walker to put in the low cross for him to punt home past Kepa. 

Chelsea then looked desperate to get something back before the referee blew for half-time, but their efforts were in vain, as Potter's men were unable to meaningfully test the City second-keeper once. Potter was left to earn his money in the dressing room before the London side came out in the second half.

Following the break, the London side did not seem to have the urgency they needed to salvage something from the tie, as they sat back and soaked up the City pressure. In spite of several changes from the Blues, the home side remained dominant, keeping the ball away from the Chelsea feet at all costs. The visitors offered very little going forward in the second half, but their mesaly two corners were to no avail, as Guardiola's side were clearly a level above.

As we have become accustomed to over the last few years, Guardiola is never satisfied with the goals his side scores, and this was once again proved when Mahrez emphatically smashed home his second and City's fourth from the penalty spot, after teammate Foden was roughly hacked down by Koulibaly in the box. This really killed off the game and persuaded even more Chelsea fans to file out of the stands early if they had not already decided to.

This victory puts City into the fourth round, and they will go up against either League One outfit Oxford United, or Premier League rivals Arsenal. Either way, it promises to be a great game.

 

January 8, 2023