Kai Havertz & N’Golo Kante key for Chelsea against Man City

Pep has thought ‘I don’t need a holding midfielder in the centre’ because Chelsea play with two men on the outside in Mason Mount and Kai Havertz behind Timo Werner.

Pep thought by going with Ilkay Gundogan in there instead, City could be more creative – but he must have known it would leave them much more open than usual.

Chelsea were clever, of course. Although they kept their defensive shape extremely well, they were not passive about it – they were trying things as well.

Havertz was constantly playing on Zinchenko’s shoulder, but the only time he ran inside him was for Chelsea’s winner, when Ruben Dias was dragged away by Werner and it left that big gap down the middle.

Meanwhile, James just had Raheem Sterling to look after rather than worrying about Zinchenko coming at him too, and he dealt with Sterling brilliantly.

It was the same on the opposite flank, where Mount pushed on to Kyle Walker and Ben Chilwell kept Riyad Mahrez quiet.

So, out wide, Chelsea were on top. When City’s wingers got in one-on-one situations, they rarely got past James or Chilwell whether they went inside them or outside.

Down the middle, N’Golo Kante was breaking play up so well too, pinching things and stopping City from building any momentum with their passing.

Ultimately, City will be disappointed they didn’t move Chelsea around more, but you have to give huge credit to Thomas Tuchel for the way he set Chelsea up.

With five at the back, and two in front, there was no way through.

Kante was meant to be a fitness doubt with a hamstring injury but he absolutely bossed the midfield.

I could tell there was no problem with him when he darted into City’s box to get on the end of a cross in the first few minutes. You don’t make runs like that if you are just trying to get through a game, and he ended up playing an integral role.