Chelsea vs Manchester City Review as Pellegrini Missed Fernandinho

Pellegrini and Mourinho

The game between Chelsea and Manchester City yesterday was just great. It began in a frantic pace. From kick-off through to the final whistle, saw two great teams battle, I mean real battle as the Citizens tried defending their superb home record while Chelsea just did their own thing.

The likes of Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho and Javi Garcia were greatly missed. 

Zabaleta finding it hard to stop Hazard who was obviously at his top-notch form and everywhere on the pitch.

Also, Yaya Toure controlled the midfield but wasn't left undisturbed by both Matic and David Luiz. 

Kompany, Demicheles, Cahill and Ivanovic worked so hard yesterday to keep their sides from a devastating defeat.

Ivanovic finding the goal in the 32nd minute to move Jose Mourinho's side level with City in second place in the Barclays Premier League, only two points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Mourinho's boys came close to closing the game completely as Eto'o, Matic and Cahill's balls found the post.

Here are comments from both managers after the game culled from premier league official website.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "For Chelsea it was a decisive game, for us it was an important one. We're still two points behind Arsenal. It was a very tough game, they score a beautiful goal but we had clear chances at least to draw. We couldn't do and they had two or three chances against the post. It was a very close game, they played well. We are not going to have any problems (bouncing back)."

"Missing players (made it tough). To play without Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho and Javi Garcia was difficult. Fernandinho was a big loss."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "I think we played fantastic, to play the way we did is amazing. In this process of building the team to be one of the favourites for next season this is a very important step. The best team in the Premier League - we beat them twice, today we were fantastic. We had the better chances to kill the game, the players played with fantastic spirit. When they had the ball we were very humble and ready to work defensively, when we had the ball we played and played really well.

"We are there, but not favourites. For the team it's very important, the feeling is fantastic feeling for them. Today we won because we were the best team, not better than them but today they were fabulous. It is not our objective to win (the title this season), our objective is to build the team and complete the formation of the players. I want to start next pre-season and say this season we are going to compete and be one of the favourites."

Who was the most outstanding player of the night?

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