‘We saw champions play like champions’: Rio Ferdinand lauds Man City’s display in dominant victory over title rivals Chelsea, insisting ‘it could have been three or four’
- Manchester City triumphed in a crucial title race scrap with Chelsea on Saturday
- City lifted the Premier League last term and the Blues will be a top contender
- Thomas Tuchel’s side have look invincible so far this season but were unlocked
- Rio Ferdinand lavished praise on Pep Guardiola’s side after the victory
Rio Ferdinand was telling ‘anyone who would listen’ about Manchester City’s crushing performance at Chelsea on Saturday, so impressed was he by the champions.
Thomas Tuchel’s men were unbeaten and ominous coming into the Stamford Bridge clash but City proved to the rest of the Premier League that the German’s European champions can be stopped.
Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half winner as the Blues stuttered and spluttered under relentless pressure, as Pep Guardiola’s side erased the three-point deficit to the Blues.
Manchester City were at their dominant best in a victory away at league title rivals Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel’s team have looked machine-like but the Blues struggled with City’s press
‘I think it was more the performance than the result,’ Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
‘We were all amazed by the performance. I’ve been talking about it to anyone who wants to listen about football this weekend.
‘It was so convincing, it could have been three of four. Their best player, Kevin De Bruyne, didn’t get into the game really until second half. They worked as a unit and really dominated Chelsea.’
Former City centre-back Joleon Lescott added: ‘I haven’t seen Chelsea be that ineffective since Tuchel took charge. It was a complete dominance.
Rio Ferdinand was impressed with the champions, believing they could have scored more
Chelsea have looked like the biggest challengers to City’s defence, making it a key victory
‘The result means a lot. The performance, outstanding.’
‘I thought it was a masterclass on so many levels,’ Owen Hargreaves said.
City began their title defence with a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day but the two side’s fortunes have reversed since.
While Nuno Espirito Santo is now on the brink, Guardiola has got his side back playing their mesmerising, superstar-fuelled football.
They scored a staggering 17 goals in their next four matches – including back-to-back 5-0 scoldings of Norwich and Arsenal – and haven’t lost since.
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