How do you follow up a near-perfect domestic season? Premier League champions Manchester City certainly set about it the right way in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, putting Chelsea to the sword in a 2-0 victory that could easily have been more emphatic.
Dead-eye Sergio Aguero brought up his 200th goal for the club in the process of scoring his double, while Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden were just two more stand-outs for Pep Guardiola’s men.
There were some worrying performances from a Chelsea perspective and, given that Maurizio Sarri has barely been at the club for three weeks, it seems that the Italian has a long road ahead of him to imprint his philosophy.
Check out our Chelsea ratings below:
CHELSEA (4-3-3)
Willy Caballero – Was snappy to thwart Aguero in a one-on-one and Diaz at the end. Chelsea have a problem if Courtois leaves, though. 7
Cesar Azpilicueta – Didn’t give Sane a sniff and he should be the least of Sarri’s concerns heading into the new season. 6
Antonio Rudiger – Improving but not the leader that Chelsea require at the heart of defence. Superb block at death. 6
David Luiz – Sarri has been pouring praise on the Brazilian but he simply does not have the awareness to play in a two-man defence. 4
Marcos Alonso – Great as a wing-back, perhaps not up to scratch as a full-back. His defensive ability against elite opposition is in question. 5
Jorginho – Should be afforded far more time to adjust, but was worryingly ponderous as the anchor of Chelsea’s midfield. 4
Cesc Fabregas – Perhaps the most impressive of Chelsea’s performers with usual slick passes. Likely to be pushed higher up when Kante gets back. 7
Ross Barkley – His big audition was neither here nor there, though not his fault that his supply lines were being cut off. 6
Pedro – Ran into a multitude of cul-de-sacs on the right-hand side. Chelsea better think twice about selling Willian. 5
Callum Hudson-Odoi – It’s no crime that a 17-year-old needs refinement and he did far more than the man on the opposite flank. 6
Alvaro Morata – Sarri needs to add snarl to this attack and Morata does not make himself felt often enough. 5
SUBS:
Willian (58′) – Spent most of his cameo in anonymity but he was marooned with no service. 5
Danny Drinkwater (60′) – His name was scarcely seen as the game passed him by in the centre of midfield. 4
Tammy Abraham (69′) – Still growing into his body but at this rate, can challenge Morata for a start. 6
Victor Moses (79′) – Actually gave Chelsea a little thrust, though lacked the results. 6