Sport
Manchester City assert Premier League title win with victory over Chelsea
Manchester City kicked off their Premier League title celebrations with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Etihad.
Recall that Pep Guardiola’s men clinched a fifth title in six seasons on Saturday, May 20, when second-placed Arsenal were defeated 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.
Following the title win, Guardiola made nine changes from the side that battered Real Madrid on Wednesday, May 17. Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, and goalkeeper Ederson were all benched.
Erling Haaland was rested but Julian Alvarez provided the cutting edge in his absence with a clinical finish to put City ahead after 12 minutes.
Kalvin Phillips who made his first Premier League start for City since joining in a £55m deal from Leeds United last summer, came close to doubling City’s lead on the hour mark but he was denied by the post after meeting Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick.
Alvarez thought he had his brace in the 73rd minute but the goal was disallowed after Mahrez was adjudged to have used a hand in the build-up.
The defeat means Chelsea will end a miserable campaign in the bottom half and a familiar lack of cutting edge in front of goal showed why the Blues have struggled under three different managers this season.
With finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan to come in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively, City have to keep their focus if they’re to pull off a historic treble.
