Chelsea endured a disappointing evening at the Etihad Stadium as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday. Despite taking an early lead, the Blues failed to maintain control, allowing the reigning Premier League champions to dominate and secure all three points with a strong second-half performance.
The match started brightly for Chelsea, who took the lead in just the third minute. The goal came after a costly mistake by City’s new signing, Abdukodir Khusanov, whose poor header back to goalkeeper Ederson fell short. Nicolas Jackson seized the opportunity, setting up Noni Madueke for an easy tap-in to give Chelsea an unexpected advantage.
However, City responded decisively just before halftime. Josko Gvardiol capitalized on a loose ball following a penalty-box tussle, calmly finishing to level the scoreline. The hosts took the lead early in the second half when Erling Haaland punished a defensive lapse. The Norwegian forward exploited goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s poor positioning to lob the ball into the net, leaving Chelsea stunned.
City sealed the win three minutes before the final whistle when Haaland turned provider, laying off the ball for Phil Foden, who finished comfortably to make it 3-1. For Chelsea, it was a frustrating night, particularly given their strong start.
Sanchez’s Struggles Highlight Chelsea’s Defensive Woes
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez endured a torrid evening, with his performance widely criticized as one of his worst this season. The Spanish keeper looked unsettled from the start, with City’s relentless attack exposing his vulnerabilities.
Sanchez had an early scare when he was beaten by City’s Omar Marmoush, though the goal was disallowed for offside. His most glaring error came during Haaland’s goal, where he was caught far off his line, giving the striker an easy chance to lob the ball into the net.
Football journalist Malik Ouzia rated Sanchez a dismal 3/10, describing his positioning as “baffling” and questioning why he continues to start for Chelsea. Data from Sofascore underscored his struggles, revealing he conceded 0.68 goals more than expected, committed an error leading to a goal, and completed just eight of 26 attempted long passes.
With Filip Jorgensen available as a backup, manager Enzo Maresca faces a tough decision about whether to replace Sanchez for the next game.
Colwill’s Tough Night Against City’s Attack
Defender Levi Colwill also struggled against City, particularly in dealing with the physicality of Erling Haaland. During City’s third goal, Haaland used his strength to outmuscle Colwill before assisting Foden, exposing the defender’s inexperience against high-level opposition.
Analyst Rory noted that Haaland “bullied” Colwill throughout the match, with Ouzia rating the defender 4/10, just slightly better than Sanchez. Statistically, Colwill won only one of three aerial duels, made an error leading to a shot, and lost possession eight times, despite completing 90% of his passes.
Maresca Faces Key Selection Decisions
Following the defeat, manager Enzo Maresca has critical decisions to make regarding his lineup. With Sanchez underperforming, Jorgensen presents a viable alternative in goal. In defense, options like Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi, or Tosin Adarabioyo could replace Colwill.
Maresca will need to carefully assess his squad and determine whether to stick with his current starters or make changes to avoid further setbacks. Regardless of his decisions, Chelsea will be eager to bounce back in their next fixture and put this disappointing result behind them.
