At Etihad Stadium, Manchester City easily dispatched of a pathetic Chelsea side to go to the FA Cup quarterfinals.
We all know this matchup between two Premier League heavyweights usually produces intense competition. City had already secured a meeting with either Oxford United or Arsenal in the next round by half time.
Riyad Mahrez gave City the lead with a brilliant free-kick in the 23rd minute. Then World Cup winner Julian Alvarez added a second from the penalty spot seven minutes later after Kai Havertz was called for a handball. City’s win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday was a battle, but this was a stroll.
Phil Foden scored City’s third goal at the 38-minute mark, finishing off Kyle Walker’s cross after being sent in by Thursday’s game-winner Mahrez, who later added his second goal from the penalty spot after Kalidou Koulibaly clumsily knocked Foden to the ground.
The Tuchel Chant
Graham Potter and the away fans chanted for dismissed manager and Champions League champion Thomas Tuchel.
Even though Chelsea lost to City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, fans cheered.
It must have been unpleasant for Potter to watch his own fans criticize his team at halftime . And at the end while chanting Tuchel’s name.
Chelsea’s lack of threat was reflected in the crowd’s satirical shouts of “shoot” and “we’ve had a shot.” Possible change in teams don’t excuse their awful performance.
There was no justification for this terrible showing, notwithstanding the fact that manager Potter is dealing with an injury problem. Chelsea’s roster included veterans Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Jorginho, Hakim Ziyech, and Kepa.
An unsettling sight for a manager so early in his tenure, especially considering owner Boehly’s scattershot expenditure on this season.
City eliminated them from both domestic competitions, leaving them 10 points beyond the Champions League cut line. If Chelsea keeps playing like this, they will be eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16.
Chelsea and their boss Potter are having a rough patch.
Manchester City always makes it look so simple.
Man City put away Chelsea easily in the first half, and then coasted through the second half without breaking a sweat to further emphasize the chasm in quality between the two teams.
While Pep Guardiola rested his goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland in favor of Argentina’s World Cup hero Alvarez, Phil Foden was given another opportunity to show why he is so important to Manchester City’s future.
Foden finished off a beautiful passing sequence between Mahrez and Walker for City’s third goal, and Guardiola’s ecstatic fist pumps and grin confirmed that his team was playing just how he wanted them to.
Manchester City have had a successful few days, reducing the distance to league leaders Arsenal to five points. If League One Oxford United can pull off an upset at the Kassam Stadium on Monday, Manchester City will likely face the Gunners again in the FA Cup fourth round.