Chapter 399
With the referee's whistle, the game officially began.
Chelsea took the lead in launching an attack. With the advantage of home court, they continued to create threats in Manchester City's half.
In the 35th minute, Chelsea's efforts finally paid off.
Azpilicueta sent a precise cross from the right, and Diego Costa jumped high and scored with a perfect header.
Stamford Bridge was instantly boiling, and the cheers of the Blues fans resounded through the sky.
Manchester City tried to respond, but their attack seemed very scattered.
Young players are inevitably a little nervous on such a big stage, and their passing and cooperation are lacking in order.
The first half ended with Chelsea leading 1-0.
After the change of sides, Chelsea continued to maintain a strong offensive.
They continued to exert pressure in the midfield, forcing Manchester City into a passive situation.
Manchester City tried to use a quick counterattack to find opportunities, but Chelsea's defense always maintained a high degree of concentration and discipline.
In the 53rd minute, Chelsea's counterattack worked again.
William received a through ball from his teammate and rushed into the penalty area at lightning speed. Facing Manchester City goalkeeper Caballero, he calmly pushed the ball into the net.
2-0, Chelsea's advantage further expanded.
But Manchester City did not give up. They strengthened their offense and tried to reverse the situation by controlling the ball.
But Chelsea's defense was very solid, and every attack by Manchester City was resolved by them.
In the 67th minute, Chelsea made a comeback again. Manchester City defender Demichelis handballed in the penalty area, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot without hesitation.
Oscar stood in front of the penalty spot and calmly kicked the ball into the net, and the score became 3-0.
The game with three goals behind obviously hit Manchester City's morale.
Their offense became more impatient and disorderly, which gave Chelsea more counterattack opportunities.
In the 75th minute, Hazard completely killed the game with a wonderful personal breakthrough.
He passed several people in Manchester City's penalty area and finally calmly pushed the ball into the far corner.
4-0, Chelsea's victory is beyond doubt.
In the last moments of the game, Aguero scored a goal for Manchester City, but this could not change the outcome of the game.
When the final whistle blew, Chelsea defeated Manchester City with a big score of 5-1 and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
This game fully demonstrated Chelsea's strength and resilience. They showed extremely high standards on both offense and defense, especially in offense and defense conversion and controlling the rhythm of the game, which was almost perfect.
The outstanding performance of attackers such as Hazard, Willian and Costa also made Chelsea's offense more powerful.
Manchester City paid the price of rotation. Due to injuries and physical considerations, Guardiola sent out many substitutes and young players.
When they faced such a strong opponent as Chelsea, they inevitably appeared to be inexperienced and the gap in strength increased the difficulty of the game.
The news of Chelsea's 5-1 victory over Manchester City spread throughout Manchester, but in Manchester City's locker room, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.
The players did not seem to be frustrated by the defeat, but rather felt relieved of a heavy burden.
Coach Guardiola sat in the middle of the locker room, looking around at his players.
This defeat was actually his active choice. Facing the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals, he had to make a choice.
"I know that the result of this game is difficult for us to accept." Guardiola said.
"But we must admit that Chelsea's performance today is indeed better than ours, and they deserve this victory."
The players listened quietly, and no one spoke.
"But this defeat does not mean that our season is over." Guardiola continued, "On the contrary, it may be the turning point we need."
Captain Kompany looked at Guardiola in confusion: "What do you mean, boss?"
Guardiola smiled and explained: "We have won consecutive victories in the league and are moving forward in various competitions."
"These results have brought us great pressure. We must go all out in every game and cannot relax at all."
The players nodded one after another. They knew this feeling well.
"But now, the situation is different." Guardiola's eyes flashed.
"Our winning streak in the league has ended, and the FA Cup has also stopped here, which means that we can focus more on the really important games."
"You mean, the Champions League?" De Bruyne asked.
"That's right." Guardiola nodded, "In three days, we will face Leverkusen."
"This isWe really need to go all out for this battle. Now we can take a breath, adjust our state, and prepare for this crucial battle. "
The players looked at each other and gradually understood Guardiola's intention.
"So, this defeat is actually a good move for you?" Silva asked in surprise.
Guardiola smiled and did not answer directly.
"We all know that no one can win on all battlefields. Sometimes we need to make a choice. "
"And I chose to bet the most precious chips on the Champions League. "
"Okay, let's go to rest now." Guardiola stood up and clapped his hands.
"Starting tomorrow, we will fully prepare for the game with Leverkusen. I believe that as long as we unite and go all out, we will definitely win. "
"Yes!" The players responded in unison.
