Chelsea: A win, but a painful reminder of top two teams’ dominance

Chelsea edged out Manchester City 2-1, but the game served as a painful reminder that the top two teams in England are dominant.

Thursday’s game was an incredible three points, but also a painful reminder and wake-up call for Chelsea fans. The reality is that Chelsea still sits well beneath the top two teams in the table, Liverpool and Manchester City, in points and in quality. The Blues are miles away—in terms of talent—from the Premier League’s two goliaths in the present. Watching Liverpool celebrate a title with Chelsea’s win was a painful reminder for fans that the club is not quite there yet.

Man City completely dominated every facet of the game early on. Better passing, better opportunities, better defense; better all around. It was no contest from the start, whatever the score might have been at the time. The Blues were out-classed, out of their league and out of the game.

This looked was a matter-of-time game for Chelsea, meaning implosion was looking inevitable. This was similar to the games the Blues had against inferior opponents earlier this season. The team dominates, fails to score and then gives up a poor goal. The Blues lose or maybe manage to salvage a draw. Chelsea was out-classed and it seemed only certain City would dent the net, take a lead into the half and go on to win the game. It looked really as simple as that.

City’s total dominance went virtually unchallenged until the 33′, when things began to look up for the Blues. Chelsea was growing in confidence; but, unfortunately it could not, cannot, would not grow in talent. The Blues were woefully behind in those quotients. Then, a lucky exchange eventuated and Chelsea took the lead. Yet, City still dominated the play as they had the entire game from then on.

After equalizing and dominating the period after, City didn’t look like a team with ten men. Fernandinho was eventually sent off and Willian notched the penalty winner, but Guardiola’s side continued to dominate. City was still the better team—with ten men.

That’s the long-term objective of this game: to dominate. Yes, the Blues captured a vital three points in their march to hold onto a Champions League spot, and that’s noteworthy. But, it still made it clear that Lampard’s site is not on the level of Man City and would pale in comparison over a full season. That’s the takeaway from tonight’s game; that’s the important point for consideration in the long run.

Chelsea has already added two top players in Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner for the upcoming season. That’s a good start, but absent major additional players in defense and in the keeper position, the huge gap will remain.

It’s still to be seen whether or not the club takes the real lesson from this Man City win. It was a fluke and Chelsea needs to upgrade significantly if it wants to really compete with City and Liverpool, the newly crowned champions of the Premier League.