Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City — Haaland, Kovacic start City’s drive for five with win

“I have a great connection with Chelsea and their fans so I did not want to celebrate. I am a City player and of course I want to celebrate but today it was okay.”

“It was tough. It’s never easy to play the first game in a stadium like Stamford Bridge against a very good side. Very happy that we put together an overall performance today.”

“I saw the space in front of me and I think it’s not easy for the goalkeeper. Luckily it went in. I don’t score many but it helps me to score for the team.”

“I just love to play football. The manager asks us to take the ball always and play football. Today we showed great quality on the ball and off the ball is important. This team is amazing.”

“When you have great players on the team, it’s a team sport in the end. It’s not easy because you want to play always but if you want to be a great team you need everyone.”

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was next to join NBC’s pitchside desk with Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe, Robbie Earle, and Tim Howard.

“We created chances. We tried to go forward. In the end we competed against the best team probably in the world. Inside the box they were clinical and we missed some chances. You can see the difference between a team that’s worked together for many, many years.”

“Sometimes we fight against the time because we want to start so many concepts. In this moment we start with possession and day after day we try to add solutions. In this short period it’s so difficult to add all the information.”

“All the players, we are controlling the game — keeping the ball, creating chances. For me we are in the right way. The most important thing is creating chances.”

“It’s 8, 9 years they’ve worked together and we’ve worked six weeks. We’re going to try to improve in time and I don’t have any doubt that at the end we’re going to enjoy it.”

Levi Colwill joined NBC’s pitchside desk with Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe, Robbie Earle, and Tim Howard, and heaped praise on new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, saying the boss makes him “want to play 10% harder” every day.

“We’re playing the best team in the world. During the game you see how much we’ve improved in certain aspects. We’ve started building that with the new gaffer and I think we’re going to be good.”

“We played against the best team in the world. A couple of weeks ago it was a different result. We had chances in the game. We’re confident that we’re going to go places with the manager. We like him.”

“We’ve gotta focus on ourselves and focus on having the best success on the pitch. We need to keep trying to improve for the fans. The new gaffer’s been amazing and we’re all bought into his philosophy.”

Here are some thoughts from Pep Guardiola after the game when he joined Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe, Robbie Earle, and Tim Howard on Peacock.

On the team looking comfortable in Week 1: “Quite similar to your feelings, surprise and respect for our level. Kevin and Bernardo, with lack of training sessions were unbelievable. The mentality of this group... We don’t take about titles because it’s one game. The good news is we won one game. The bad news is we have 60, 70 games ahead of us.”

On where the hunger keeps coming from: “When we are here we try to do our best and win the games. Holidays are holidays but the competition arrives and ignites something in us and we say, ‘Let’s do it.’ I think we perform, considering where we are — away from our best — was stellar.”

On Mateo Kovacic: “Kovacic is a guy who is not scared of the ball especially under pressure. His mom and dad have given us an unbelievable person — his humility, his set-up — the group of guys we have is unbelievable. With them we can go wherever.

On the importance of possession: “It’s everything. You have to have the ball and it is definitely is the key. We talked about the players, quick, fast, 1-on-1 for the wingers. The fullback arriving in the final third I don’t know how many times. For me it’s an honor to be with this club. It’s an incredible privilege to manner these guys.”

A workmanlike win for City, who open pursuit of a fifth-successive Premier League title with a clean sheet win.

Chelsea weren’t bad, but “not bad” doesn’t beat the champs.

City finished with 52% of the ball, an 11-10 edge in shot attempts, and five of the game’s eight shots on target.

Chelsea won the xG game and new boss Enzo Maresca will like his side’s share of possession. He’ll also know those numbers were inflated a bit by City’s comfortable control of the score line and game.

Oh, goodness.

It’s a bad clearance from Chelsea, and former Blues midfielder Mateo Kovacic feasts on the opportunity.

Kovacic dribbles clear of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, then takes his yard of space from Levi Colwill to blast off Robert Sanchez’s hands and into the goal.

Kovacic doesn’t celebrate against his old side, but he’ll love the replay.

Colwill will not — He’s had a front-row seat to both goals today.

Currently the stats after 70 minutes show how tight and tense it is out there.

Expected goals: Chelsea 1.13, Man City 0.71
Shots on target: Chelsea 2, Man City 4
Big chances: Chelsea 1, Man City 1

Two new signings on for Chelsea as Guiu and Dewsbury-Hall come on for Jackson and Lavia.

One Chelsea fan near the press box shouts out “Lavia, best player on the pitch match” and that tells you how much the home fans appreciated his first start.

Lavia’s injury nightmare is finally over and the Belgian midfielder is a fine talent, who will be very important in Maresca’s system.

Erling Haaland has been booked for a foul on Levi Colwill.

He stretched to finish and caught Colwill on the knee.

Then the ball broke to Rico Lewis who finished.

VAR checked and confirmed it was not a goal. Play on.

A cross is clipped into the box, Lavia heads it back in and Jackson’s acrobatic effort is saved by Ederson at close range.

So close to an equalizer from Chelsea. Much better from the hosts and the home fans are getting behind them. Big time.

City starting to creak a little.

Chelsea make their first chance of the game with Pedro Neto on for Christopher Nkunku.

There is a huge roar from the home fans as Neto comes on for his Chelsea debut.

The way this game is developing, it feels like this is made for the Portuguese winger to be the hero.

This game is being dictated by Maresca and Guardiola from the sidelines.

They are yelling onto the pitch and asking their players to move just a few yards this way and that.

It is all very tight and congested, especially in midfield.

You can tell these two managers know each other so well from Maresca’s time as Guardiola’s assistant.

With 39,818 fans inside Stamford Bridge, many home fans will be feeling slightly optimistic about the second half.

Well, more so than they thought they would be.

Chelsea have had chances on the counter but they have been sloppy in possession and City are so dangerous. However, the reigning champs have yet to really hit top form.

Here are my thoughts from the sun in west London.

One half time sub for Man City and that is Phil Foden (heard of him!?) on for Savinho.

It seems like Savinho couldn’t shake off that injury, which is a shame because he looked very bright and was giving Cucurella a torrid afternoon.

The first bit of action is Haaland curling a shot towards the far corner which Sanchez pushes away. Decent stop from the Chelsea goalkeeper.

That was an intriguing first half here at the Bridge.

Chelsea created some chances, especially on the counter, but they’ve given the ball away a lot in midfield.

Man City have gone close on several occasions and Erling Haaland scored the goal to put them ahead, as they look in control.

De Bruyne and Doku have both gone close too for City, who still have so many top players on the bench and not playing today. That is scary.

It’s evenly poised here as Enzo Maresca won’t be too disheartened with that performance, but the likes of Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke will surely be coming off the bench very soon. Chelsea are getting plenty of joy on the break.

What a let off for Ederson.

Cole Palmer’s low shot isn’t powerful but Ederson spills it.

Nicolas Jackson slots home the rebound but the offside flag goes up. VAR checks it but Jackson just off.

Most of Stamford Bridge roars but then it’s the noise of City’s fans cheering ironically when VAR confirmed it was offside.

Kevin de Bruyne is cleaned out by Caicedo and remains down.

Savinho is also down now and is slamming the floor is disgust.

That all came after a brilliant City break and Doku just kept the ball for a bit too long, then KDB was clattered.

Savinho is holding his right knee but he’s carrying on for now. He does not look comfortable.

Chelsea give the ball away, again, in midfield.

Jeremy Doku has a shot which takes a big deflection, loops up and looks like it is going in.

Robert Sanchez goes flying to his right to tip the ball over the bar.

Audible gasps from around Stamford Bridge confirm it was indeed a bloody good save.

Erling Haaland is off and running for the new Premier League season and that now takes his tally to an incredible 64 Premier League goals in 67 games in the competition.

Haaland has scored 91 goals in 100 games in all competitions for City, which is also ridiculous.

With numbers like those from Haaland, how on earth can anyone stop City?

That is a lovely driving run from Kevin de Bruyne in a central area.

KDB then unleashes a powerful effort which flies just wide of the far post as City are really cranking through the gears now.

After starting fairly well, Chelsea’s players keep giving the ball away in midfield and there are plenty of moans and groans among the home fans at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca looks very frustrated on the sidelines.

City are ahead and it’s that man Erling Haaland.

A ball is played in to Bernardo Silva who cleverly flicks it around the corner to Haaland and he holds off a challenge and dinks home.

There is a lengthy VAR check for offside but the goal stands and City’s fans are chanting Haaland’s name in the stands.

Chelsea’s fans around me are less than complimentary about the defending of their team, with that defensive line more of a zigzag. Oh dear.

Really good scraps between Doku and Cucrella and Savinho and Gusto developing on the wings.

Cucurella wins the latest battle with Doku, as the Chelsea fans laud the Spanish left back who was so impressive for Spain en route to winning EURO 2024 this summer. What a comeback he’s had in his career.

Doku and Savinho have just switched wings. There will be a lot of that going on today.

It feels like these battles out wide are going to be pivotal in the outcome of this game.

As the teams walked out I popped up this quick video on social media.

It is a beautiful day for a game here in west London. I’m sat directly in the sun in the press box and I’m very glad I whacked the Factor 50 sun block on before I left home!

Anyway, here’s what I’m looking forward to in this game, as I’m excited to see what on earth this Chelsea side look like and I’m intrigued to see Savinho in action.

Chelsea have started with Nkunku on the left wing and Nicolas Jackson through the middle with Enzo Fernandez as the No. 10. Cole Palmer is on the right.

Chelsea have already been caught on the ball a few times with Man City pressing high.

Manchester City have started with Savinho on the left and Doku on the right, which is the opposte to what we expected.

Chelsea are causing their own fans plenty of concern with their own goal kicks as every play is dropping deep to try and get on the ball.

Our entire NBC Sports studio team is here at Stamford Bridge today.

Completing an incredible opening weekend where they’ve been at Man United vs Fulham, West Ham vs Aston Villa and now here today for Chelsea vs Man City.

Gary Neville will also be joining our NBC Sports crew each Sunday throughout the season.

The good news for Manchester City is that only two players are missing through injury.

Young winger Oscar Bobb is out for the next few months with a lower leg injury, while Rodri is out as he continues to work his way back to full fitness after being injured in the EURO 2024 final.

There is no John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden or Nathan Ake in the starting lineup for City, but that quartet did make it to either the EURO 2024 semifinals and final and they’ve only just returned to training.

That quartet are on a very strong looking bench for City, with Jack Grealish also recovering from a hamstring injury to be in the squad.

The big team news to come from Chelsea is that Raheem Sterling didn’t even make the bench.

According to The Athletic, Sterling, 29, is said to be ‘seeking clarity’ over his future at Chelsea after not being named in the 20-man squad for this game.

Sterling has struggled for goals and assists since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 despite performing well for large chunks of last season under Mauricio Pochettino.

If Sterling’s future at Chelsea is not a positive one for him, which seems very likely after this omission from the squad, he could well be on the move in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Manchester City’s only new signing this summer is Savinho, and he’s starting on the right.

The Brazilian winger chose the No. 26 shirt as Riyad Mahrez was an inspiration to him growing up and his playing style is very similar.

We certainly saw glimpses of that during the Community Shield last weekend, as he loves to cut inside on his left foot.

Here is more from Savinho on why he chose the No. 26 shirt:

“Since I was little, my dream was also to get here at Manchester City (like Mahrez),” Savinho told City’s website.

“My friends always said that I looked a bit like him, but Mahrez is Mahrez, Sávio is Sávio. I don’t want to create expectations for people, but I want to show my football - but I really like Mahrez and the way he plays football.

“In this case, he is an inspiration here, that’s why I chose his number, and I am happy.”

The starting lineups are in and it looks like Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has gone with a 4 2-3-1 formation.

Robert Sanchez gets the nod in goal, with Guston, Fofana, Colwill and Cucurella at the back.

Lavia and Caciedo are in holding midfield, with Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku behind Nicolas Jackson. New signings Jorgensen, Badiashille, Tosin, Viega, Dewsbury-Hall, Neto and Guiu are all on the bench with Raheem Sterling not included in the 20-man squad...

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has not started with any of England’s players who reached the EURO 2024 final, while Rodri is out as he works his way back to full fitness following his return.

Kovacic, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva start in midfield, while summer signing Savinho starts out wide so get ready for him to emulate Riyad Mahrez.

Erling Haaland looked very sharp this summer as he spent the entire preseason in the USA with Manchester City’s squad and worked through a few fitness issues to continue scoring plenty of goals and he also wore the captains armband.

Given that he’s won the Premier League Golden Boot in each of the last two seasons, Haaland is looking to match only Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in winning the Premier League top scorer accolade for three seasons on the trot.

If you fancy a flutter on Erling Haaland to win the Golden Boot for the 2024-25 season, our partners at BetMGM have priced him at +200 to finish on top again.

The simple answer is, good luck!

Chelsea have about 754 players in their squad (just an estimate, as it could actually be higher...) and Enzo Maresca has just got the likes of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella back in recent days.

Still, there seems to be a general consensus that the starting lineup below is their strongest for the Chelsea game if everybody is fit and up to speed, with Reece James both suspended and out injured for this one.

Your thoughts?

——- Jorgensen ——-

—- Gusto —- Badiashille —- Colwill —- Cucurella —-

—-— Lavia ——- Caicedo ——-

—— Palmer —- Fernandez —— Nkunku ——

——- Jackson ——-

Of course, this will be Maresca’s first game in charge of a Premier League club. He was an assistant at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola in the historic treble-winning season in 2022-23, coached City’s U21 side and also played in England for West Brom as a player.

Maresca spent his playing career in Italy, England, Greece and Spain and he was briefly in charge of Parma, while he was very successful at Leicester City last season as he led the Foxes to the Championship title and promotion straight back to the Premier League.

What is he all about? He loves possession. Loves it. And those very specific tactics are totally opposite to Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy with this Chelsea side last season. That means there have been plenty of growing pains in preseason as this massive, and very young, Chelsea squad try to implement Maresca’s very clear vision for football.

Expect plenty of passes between center backs and goalkeepers, while full backs will tuck inside and Chelsea will also look to play direct once they have suckered in the opponents. All of this will take a while for Chelsea’s players to implement properly and Maresca will be hoping he gets the one thing Chelsea’s current owners, and most owners of football clubs, are not known for: patience.