Aguero can do even better this season, says Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini believes that Sergio Aguero can do better than last season after the Manchester City striker opened the scoring in his side's 3-0 victory over Chelsea.

Aguero won the 2014/15 Barclays Golden Boot with 26 goals but this total was limited by injury, as it has in seasons before, which restricted him to 30 league starts over the campaign. But his manager believes that the Argentinian will not be so hampered this campaign as he marked his first start in the Barclays Premier League this season with a goal, and could have had more during the first half but for the excellence of Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

"Aguero is in the best moment of his career," Pellegrini said. "This season, he can be even better than before. He has matured and his work ethic is good. He is improving a lot of things.

"That's why he started the game. In the pre-match press conference, I was asked whether he was 100% fit and you could see that. Three important saves denied him from scoring three or four goals today.

"I don't think he will suffer any injuries. Last season, he had no muscle injuries. He can be a top player for us this season."

Pellegrini felt the scoreline reflected his team’s first-half dominance, even if the match was more even after the break.

"It is very satisfying because it's not easy to beat the champions," he said. "We played very well without conceding chances for Chelsea to score and it was only a great performance from Asmir Begovic that meant we couldn't score more goals.

"Yes, the second half was more equal - Chelsea played better - but I only remember one chance which Joe [Hart] saved. We played better and 3-0 is the minimum we deserved."


Jose Mourinho disagreed with Pellegrini over whether the scoreline reflected the match; he felt it flattered the winners.

At half-time the Chelsea manager substituted John Terry for Kurt Zouma, the first time he has taken off the Chelsea captain, who had played in every minute of the Blues' title-winning campaign last season. The manager said the decision was tactical and that it was justified by the side's improved second-half performance.

"I had to decide on John or Cahill because Zouma is the fastest player we have in our defensive line," Mourinho said, deflecting a subsequent question as to why he picked Terry. "When you are going to play with a high block and you are asking your players to do that, the fastest player has to be on the pitch."

Mourinho's defensive options Say

Mourinho's defensive options are set to be improved by the agreement to sign Baba Rahman, the 21-year-old Ghana left-back, from Augsburg, in Germany, which was confirmed shortly after full-time. Rahman will replace Filipe Luis, who returned to Atletico Madrid in the summer.

"It's important because he is a left-back and he can compete with [Cesar] Azpilicueta," Mourinho said. "At the same time, by being a left-back, Azpilicueta can compete with [Branislav] Ivanovic for the right-back position.

"This player replaces Filipe Luis in the balance of the squad. He is a player that we need for that balance."
(Source : http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news)

Read more about Result Big Macth : Manchester City 3 Chelsea 0

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Result Big Macth : Manchester City 3 Chelsea 0

A Ramires goal incorrectly ruled out for offside with Man City a goal ahead changed the complexion of this early-season Premier League fixture.

The Brazilian latched on to a brilliant Cesc Fabregas pass early in the second period and nudged the ball home but an errant offside flag denied us a deserved leveller.

Sergio Aguero had put the hosts ahead having already been thwarted by the excellent Asmir Begovic on three occasions, while Diego Costa had a strong shout for a first-half penalty.

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. 

Jose Mourinho was forced to make two changes to the side that started against Swansea on the opening day. Asmir Begovic replaced the suspended Thibaut Courtois while Ramires came in for the injured Oscar, allowing Willian to move infield behind Diego Costa up front. The rest of the team was unchanged from last Saturday.

Within 25 seconds of his first Chelsea start Begovic was called upon to make a telling contribution, denying Aguero who had raced clear on goal courtesy of a fine David Silva pass. It set the tone for an assured performance by the Bosnian. He confidently claimed a dangerous free-kick not long after.

We had a good claim for a penalty with eight minutes played when Diego Costa was tripped by Fernandinho inside the box following good forward-thinking play from Ramires, but Martin Atkinson shook his head.

Azpilicueta then looped a cross on to the top of Hart's net. On the other side of the pitch, Mangala resorted to WWE-style tactics to stop the ever-dangerous Diego Costa getting free down the right.

Not long after the hour mark passed, Mourinho introduced Juan Cuadrado for his first Premier League appearance this season.

The Chelsea pressure was mounting and the royal-blue momentum nearly paid off with 20 minutes to go. Hazard lead a rapid break and picked out Diego Costa approaching the left-hand side of the box. He carried the ball, cut inside before squaring for last year’s Player of the Year. Hazard dropped a shoulder and fired for goal, but met his match in Hart.

City proved more clinical at the other end as Kompany headed in Silva’s near-post corner, the inside of the post again benefitting the home side. Five minutes later, Fernandinho smashed a third goal from the edge of the box after the ricocheting ball ran in his path.

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.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c) (Zouma h/t), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Ramires (Cuadrado 64), Willian (Falcao 79), Hazard; Diego Costa.
Unused subs Blackman, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Remy.
Booked Ivanovic 48, Hazard 81

Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Mangala, Kolarov; Toure, Fernandinho; Navas (Nasri 65), Silva, Sterling (Demichelis 79); Ageuro (Bony 83).
Unused subs Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Iheancho.
Scorers Aguero 32, Kompany 79, Fernandinho 85
Booked Kompany 33, Fernandinho 45+1, Toure 51, Mangala 90+1

Referee Martin Atkinson

(http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news)

Read more about Barclay Premier League: Big Match Manchester City vs Chelsea 2015

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Barclay Premier League: Big Match Manchester City vs Chelsea 2015

Big Match Manchester City vs Chelsea 2015

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is fit despite being substituted at West Brom because of a slight groin problem.

Full-back Gael Clichy may return following an ankle injury, but Fabian Delph and Fernando are both ruled out.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois serves a one-match ban and will be replaced by summer signing Asmir Begovic.

Midfielder Oscar is doubtful after suffering a minor injury in training.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Guy Mowbray: "Last season's corresponding fixture came too soon to be a blockbuster, and this being even earlier feels something of a waste.

"On last weekend's displays, City are favourites. Their performance at West Brom was magnificent and Vincent Kompany's goal celebrations and post-match words outlined a point to prove to those who've written them out of title contention. Some will have already changed their minds!

"Overshadowed by 'medicgate', Chelsea were a level down from their best against Swansea. They'll have to be better to get the point Jose Mourinho would gladly take here. If they don't, he might need a doctor."

Twitter: @Guymowbray

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "I said the first day I arrived here I have my differences with him [Jose Mourinho] but... I always shake hands with him."

"We are not thinking about the title in the second game but we are thinking about trying to win our points at home, especially as we are playing against the champions and one of the teams that has a lot of chances to win the title."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "We are speaking about 38 matches. It is an eternity, a marathon that started last week."

"I cannot say [this match] is not crucial, I cannot say it's not very, very, very important.

"They are title contenders so three points are important, but I cannot say that a win will mean anything significant."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I rarely tip Chelsea to lose a game under Jose Mourinho but I don't think things are quite right with them at the moment. This is definitely a good time for City to play them. Lawro v BBC 6 Music presenter Mark Radcliffe

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head :

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games against Manchester City (W2, D2).
However, Chelsea have won just one of their previous seven games at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions (W1, D1, L5).

Manchester City

• Manuel Pellegrini's side have won their last seven Premier League home games, keeping clean sheets in six of those matches.
• The last time they failed to win a top-flight home game was on 7 February, when they drew 1-1 with Hull City.
•  City completed 693 passes against West Brom - 212 more than any other team in the opening round of Premier League fixtures.
• David Silva has provided 47 assists since making his Premier League debut in August 2010, more than any other player in that period.

Chelsea

• Chelsea have not lost any of their last 28 Premier League games in the month of August (W23, D5) since a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in 2006.
• The last time they failed to win either of their opening two Premier League games was in 1998.
• The Blues have only kept one clean sheet in their last six league games.

Premier League predictions: Lawro v BBC 6 Music's Mark Radcliffe

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.

Lawro's opponent for this weekend's Premier League fixtures is BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Mark Radcliffe.

Radcliffe, who also hosts The Folk Show on BBC Radio 2, is a season-ticket holder at Manchester City and is backing them to beat Chelsea on Sunday.


Radcliffe has been a City fan since he was a boy and watched them regularly since 1976 when he moved to Manchester.

"It is difficult to pick out one moment as the highlight of my time following City," he told BBC Sport. "It is tempting to pick the glory days and I suppose when Sergio Aguero scored that goal to win us the Premier League in 2012, I was there watching it and wondering 'has that actually just happened?'

"It seemed impossible. It was so surreal and the sort of thing that never happened to City.

"I suppose that is my greatest moment although I am always drawn back to Paul Dickov scoring at Wembley, with his famous 95th-minute equaliser in the play-off final in 1999, because I do think that was the key moment in the City story of recent times.

"Lose that, and we were staring into the abyss but we won and it felt like we were on the way back. So my head would say Aguero but my heart would go back to Dickov, on his knees at Wembley."

You can hear more of Mark's tales about following City on Football Focus at 12:15 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.

Our scoring system has changed this season and a correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is now worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

Last weekend, Lawro got two correct results from 10 Premier League games, with no perfect scores.

His score of 20 points saw him draw with former England cricketer Graeme Swann who also picked two correct results.

The Premier League team top of the Predictor leaderboard after week one is Watford, with an average score of 57 points, while the 13-15 age-group has the highest average score of 55 points.

(http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football)

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