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Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea: The Title Must Wait

ByJ.C. Gonzalez|
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on May 08, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Martin Rickett - Pool/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on May 08, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Martin Rickett - Pool/Getty Images)

In the first match since learning that Chelsea would be their Champions League final opponents, Manchester City controversially lost to the London outfit and were unable to clinch the Premier League title.

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City played a heavily rotated side but were in control for the first 45 minutes and grabbed a late goal through Raheem Sterling before they were handed a massive opportunity to double their advantage with a penalty. Sergio Agüero, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer stepped up, and despite his struggles from the spot in the past, agonizingly tried a paneka that was easily saved by Édouard Mendy.

From there, Chelsea came out with a fire in the second half, creating a host of chances and eventually equalizing with a low driven strike from Hakim Ziyech. Nevertheless, City should have won the match after Sterling was cynically taken out from behind while through on goal by Kurt Zouma, but the referee was unconvinced while VAR was nowhere to be found.

With Pep Guardiola incensed on the touchline, Chelsea went up the other end and found the winner through Marcos Alonso to completely deny City’s potential Premier League-clinching match. It is nothing less than a demoralizing result, and as Thomas Tuchel said post-match, they know they can beat City. They have now done it twice in a row, and this match sends a signal ahead of the Champions League final.

This team was heavily rotated and the refereeing was controversial to say the least, but City must now pick themselves up with 21 days until the final. They will be favorites with good reason, but they cannot underperform like this if they are to win the biggest match in club history.