Manchester City held to draw by Chelsea amid title race concerns
Manchester City’s title aspirations suffered another setback as Enzo Fernandez struck deep into stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw for managerless Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
Tijjani Reijnders had given the hosts the lead in the first half with a powerful left-footed strike, but Pep Guardiola’s side were unable to hold on despite dominating possession throughout the contest.
The Argentine midfielder pounced in the dying moments after Malo Gusto’s cross caused chaos in the City penalty area, with Fernandez ultimately bundling the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma at the second attempt.
The dropped points leave City trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by six points, with the Gunners having won at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Chelsea arrived at the Etihad in turmoil following the sudden departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, with Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane stepping in for his first senior match. The Italian manager’s dismissal came after a dismal run that saw the Blues secure only one victory in their previous six league fixtures.
Maresca’s tenure ended abruptly amidst the club’s collapse in form, leading to speculation that Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be the next permanent appointment at Stamford Bridge.
Reijnders broke the deadlock in the 44th minute, a moment that came after City had been frustrated by resolute Chelsea defending. Reece James and Gusto were particularly impressive in repelling City’s attacks. Erling Haaland nearly doubled the advantage but rattled a left-footed effort against the post, watching it roll across the goalline and away to safety.
City’s injury concerns deepened when Josko Gvardiol was forced off with an ankle injury early in the second half, compounding the absence of John Stones.
Despite the upheaval, Chelsea’s point represented a creditable result, with McFarlane’s defensive approach frustrating City for long stretches until the visitors grew more adventurous in the closing stages. The result extends Chelsea’s winless run against City to 12 matches in all competitions since their Champions League final triumph in 2021.
City had entered the fixture seven points behind Arsenal after the leaders’ dramatic victory on the south coast, and their failure to win at home has significantly widened the gap in the title race. As the final minutes approached, a heated exchange unfolded involving Liam Delap, a former City academy product now at Chelsea, showing that old rivalries don’t fade easily.
