'Completely fake'. That was Jose Mourinho's take on the drubbing that was handed out to his Chelsea side in Manchester yesterday. After a week where Mourinho was firmly in the firing line, he seemed incredulous to the fact that his side looked second best throughout yesterday's clash with Man City.
It ended 3-0 and most observers would agree that Manuel Pellegrini's side were good value for their win. However, if you were to simply go off the match report on Chelsea's official website, you might have a different opinion.
A Ramires goal incorrectly ruled out for offside with Man City a goal ahead changed the complexion of this early-season Premier League fixture.
We dominated after the interval and after Ramires’s goal was disallowed, Hazard drew a fine stop from Joe Hart. Two late City goals, from Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho, added some gloss to a final scoreline which did not accurately reflect the bigger picture.
Well that's one way to look at it. While you would expect Chelsea's website to take a slightly one sided view, their analysis of the treatment handed out to the saintly Diego Costa by City's defenders is particularly entertaining.
Kompany cynically scythed Diego Costa down...
Diego Costa was on the receiving end of a brutish aerial challenge from Fernandinho...
Mangala resorted to WWE-style tactics to stop the ever-dangerous Diego Costa...
Ultimately, there was no mention of the piss-poor defending that effectively handed the game to City and the fact that Chelsea were resoundingly beaten at their own game was ignored with Chelsea's report summing things up rather differently.
Diego Costa hit the post in time added on and Hart was in the right place to block Hazard’s follow-up effort. It epitomised what had been a game of very fine margins.
Sources tell us Jose's campaign to control all aspects of his club will see him pouring the tea at Stamford Bridge during half time next weekend.
