All change at Chelsea

Chelsea disintegrated on their last trip to Manchester City but it’s all changed now. We look back on that 3-0 defeat and why they are a very different proposition one year on…

It’s only 16 months ago but for Chelsea supporters it must already feel like a different era. It’s not just the names of those involved that date the club’s last trip to the Etihad Stadium, although the involvement of Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado says plenty, but the emotions and events that have occurred since. Much of the drama came to a head that day.

When Gary Cahill went down with a head injury in the first half, Manchester City supporters got the moment they’d been waiting for. There were cheers and jeers as Chelsea’s all-new medical team ran on to attend, the previous pairing, Dr Eva Carneiro included, having been demoted the previous week. “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” came the chant.

Jose Mourinho – practising studied insouciance on the touchline – didn’t last much too longer himself. Looking back, it was a moment laced with meaning but much of it was unclear at the time. There had been hints in pre-season, failed signings and faltering form, but the opening-day draw with Swansea might still have been a mere blip.

Within moments of kick-off that theory began to unravel as Sergio Aguero broke through. …

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