Sublime Manchester City Sweep Chelsea Aside to Lift Community Shield
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MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2018 20 Manchester City’s Belgian defender Vincent Kompany lifts up the FA Community Shield as Manchester City players celebrate their victory (AFP) Aguero ruins Chelsea bow Sublime Manchester City sweep Chelsea aside to lift Community Shield Aguero milestone AFP | London The last side to win the Community Shield and then go on to clinch the Consigning Conte’s favoured ergio Aguero spoiled Chelsea man- Premier League title were Manchester 3-4-2-1 formation to the bin, Sarri ager Maurizio Sarri’s first taste of United in 2010-11. sent Chelsea out in a 4-3-3 system that English football as the Argentine’s On this evidence, City could follow malfunctioned from start to finish. Sergio always S has a little double gave Manchester City a stylish in their arch rivals’ footsteps at the end Sarri has brought Italy midfielder 2-0 victory in the Community Shield of the season. Jorginho with him from Napoli to serve bit with his yesterday. City’s German winger Leroy Sane was as the pivot for his manager’s attacking physicality… Blues boss Sarri, hired to replace the forced off injured at half-time, giving gameplan. maybe he sacked Antonio Conte last month, en- Guardiola a scare ahead of their Premier But Jorginho made an underwhelm- needs a little dured a miserable debut in the prestig- League opener at Arsenal on August 12. ing start, repeatedly giving the ball away bit more ious friendly at Wembley as lacklustre But that was the only sour note for in dangerous areas. Chelsea were swept aside by Premier City as they got back in the groove in Phil Foden drove at the heart of time to take League champions City. impressive style. the Chelsea defence to set up City’s his physical Picking up where they left off in their While the Community Shield serves 13th-minute opener with little resist- condition. But record-breaking campaign last term, as curtain raiser to the new season, City ance from Jorginho or anyone else. he arrived so Pep Guardiola’s team took an early lead and FA Cup holders Chelsea have very Foden’s incisive run ended with a sharp, so good through Aguero, who rewarded City’s different ambitions for Premier League simple pass to the unmarked Aguero, PEP GUARDIOLA dominance with a second goal after campaign, which kicks off on Friday. who applied the finishing touch with a Sergio Aguero the break. City are favourites to defend the title fine low strike from the edge of the area. work when he cut in and among the top Champions League It was Aguero’s 200th City goal -- from the left flank to contenders after becoming the first making the Argentina striker the first bring City goalkeep- English top-flight team to secure 100 player to reach that milestone for the er Claudio Bravo into BETTER points last season. Eastlands outfit. action with a stinging In contrast, Chelsea are starting from Foden’s contribution was the high- drive. scratch after chain-smoking former light of an assured display from the Hudson-Odoi was a rare KNOW banker Sarri was hired from Napoli as 18-year-old midfielder that belied his bright spot for Chelsea, with an antidote to his antagonistic prede- tender age and showed why he is hailed subdued Spain striker Alvaro cessor Conte. by City staff as the ‘Stockport Iniesta’. Morata offering little evidence The Community Shield But healing the wounds of Conte’s After 10 appearances for City last he can make amends for last sea- started life as the Charity fractious two-year reign -- which end- season, when he also inspired England’s son’s flop. Shield, which ran from ed with Chelsea 30 points behind City Under-17 World Cup triumph, Foden Inspired by Aguero, City could 1908 until its name change in fifth place -- won’t be easy for Sarri, could be on the brink of a breakthrough have won by five but they settled for in 2002. It came from the as this spluttering performance under- campaign. one more in the 58th minute. lined. In the absence of Eden Hazard, still Aguero made a clever run to meet original Sheriff of London Sarri and Guardiola are close friends resting after the World Cup, Chelsea Bernardo Silva’s pass with a clini - Charity Shield, which was and dined together on the eve of the unveiled a precocious talent on their cal finish that flashed past Willy Ca- played annually between a Community Shield, yet this first expe- own in Callum Hudson-Odoi. ballero as the champions showed leading amateur club and rience of Chelsea’s reduced status must The 17-year-old winger gave a glimpse Sarri the size of the task ahead of professional club have left a nasty taste for the Italian. of his blistering pace and nimble foot- him..