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Chelsea UCL watch: VAR fails Morata, City’s mentality, Simeone’s “bollocks”

By George Perry

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 20: Alvaro Morata of Atletico Madrid scores his team's first goal, which is later ruled out by VAR during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 20: Alvaro Morata of Atletico Madrid scores his team's first goal, which is later ruled out by VAR during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal as David Luiz and Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea react during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on February 10, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

2. Manchester City think like winners – Chelsea do not

Ever since Manchester City defeated Burton Albion 9-0 we have asked if Chelsea have both the ability and mentality to play with such ruthlessness.

Part of Pep Guardiola’s masterful motivation (you know, that thing Maurizio Sarri say he cannot do) is his willingness to drop players who let down their edge for a moment. If Guardiola saw a player shut off while up 8-0 against a League One side, he would have no issue benching that player in the next game. The responsibility of every player when winning 8-0 is to work towards a 9-0 win.

The other side of this mentality is the ability to come back when trailing. At 1-0 down against Bournemouth, Manchester City and Manchester United, Chelsea showed little desire to counter-punch. As a result, none of those games ended mercifully 1-0.

Manchester City trailed 2-1 in the first half against Schalke. They they went down to 10 men in the 68′ when Nicolas Otamendi received his second yellow.

Manchester City had an away goal. They only trailed by one. The two goals they conceded were both penalty kicks. And they still have the home leg of the tie ahead of them. A 2-1 loss to Schalke would have been an interesting footnote and a memorable night for the German club, but would likely have no bearing on the outcome of the tie. City would still be expected to win by four or five at the Etihad and cruise into the quarterfinals. Let this one slide, get it back next time.

But if any player thought that, he would not play on Sunday against Chelsea, next Wednesday against West Ham and not against Schalke in the return fixture. That is not how Pep Guardiola has this team thinking. They had a list of reasons many teams, coaches and players would cite as to why a 2-1 loss was justifiable, excusable and no big deal. Those reasons have no place in their team.

And that is the mentality and motivational difference between Chelsea and Manchester City. Beyond the quality of players and the validity of Maurizio Sarri’s methods, until Chelsea regain a mentality that hates to lose as much as they love to win (do they love to win? Hard to tell these days), they will be looking up at the sky blues.

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