Manchester City’s defensive display against Chelsea has been hailed by pundits on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show.
Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry heaped praise on Pep Guardiola’s side, who restricted Chelsea to five shots on goal and failed to test Ederson throughout the 90 minutes in a huge win over title rivals.
Despite being the away side, City dominated with 59 per cent possession and former Liverpool defender Carragher said this wasn’t a snatch and grab at Stamford Bridge.
While there was one goal in it, due to the nature of both team’s defence, the better team won according to the 43-year-old.
Carragher said: “This is was a defensive masterclass and we always attribute that to Jose Mourinho, sitting back and you nick it 1-0, they haven’t nicked it 1-0, they battered Chelsea on their own patch.
"Both defences were on top but I loved this games, Chelsea defending deep because they like that but Pep’s team defending from the front, pressing high.”
Henry added that he was let down by Thomas Tuchel’s gameplan and that on the day, Guardiola outclassed his opposite number.
The Blues never got into any rhythm, barely having a second on the ball and were pressed into mistakes all game.
The tactics on display were that of a Guardiola side at their peak despite it being only a few games into the season and the former Arsenal striker says the City boss used what he learnt from one of the greatest footballing minds to ever play and manage in Johan Cruyff.
Henry said: “On and off the ball they dominated Chelsea, I was a bit disappointed with how Tuchel set up the team. The way they played was just outstanding, tactically they took the ball away from Chelsea.
"Pep got it from Cruyff the best way to defend is to have the ball, keep it, make sure they don’t have it and they did it so well.”
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