Chelsea started strong against Manchester City, taking an early lead, but ultimately succumbed to a 3-1 defeat.

The loss continued their tough patch of form, raising questions about their chances of securing Champions League qualification.

Early Promise, But Missed Chances

Chelsea’s performance began with promise as Noni Madueke’s early goal gave them the advantage.

However, despite this, they failed to capitalize on their lead.

Manchester City turned the game around with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden, taking control and securing the win.

There were moments when Chelsea seemed poised to extend their lead, particularly when City’s new signing, Abdukodir Khusanov, was struggling at center-back.

But they failed to press their advantage and allowed City to recover.

Gary Neville Criticizes Chelsea’s Mentality

On The Gary Neville Podcast, Neville didn’t hold back, criticizing Chelsea’s decision-making in the opening stages of the match.

He pointed out that while the team had talented players, they lacked the necessary mentality to take control when the game was in their favor.

Neville singled out Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, and Reece James, suggesting they should have sensed City’s vulnerability and gone for the jugular.

He believed that Chelsea missed a big opportunity, as they stuck to their pre-game strategy instead of adapting to the flow of the game.

Key Errors and Missed Opportunities

The opening goal came as a result of a mistake from Khusanov, who misjudged a header back to his goalkeeper, allowing Nicolas Jackson to assist Madueke for the goal.

Khusanov was later booked for a foul on Palmer, and City’s defense seemed shaky after their midweek loss to PSG.

Despite the early struggles, City recovered and went on to dominate the game.

Haaland’s equalizer came after a costly mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who rushed out of his goal only to be lobbed from distance by Haaland.

This was Sanchez’s fifth error leading to a goal this season, a record he likely won’t want to keep.

Maresca’s Response to Sanchez’s Mistakes

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca addressed Sanchez’s form after the game, acknowledging his mistakes but reaffirming trust in him.

Maresca hinted that there may be changes to the goalkeeper position, stating that they would assess Sanchez’s reaction over the coming week before deciding on the next steps.

Chelsea’s Champions League Hopes in Doubt

The defeat left Chelsea in a precarious position, falling outside the top five and risking their Champions League aspirations.

After a strong start to the season, they’ve now won just once in their last seven matches.

The team will need to regroup quickly to stay in contention for European football next season.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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