Chelsea missed the chance to move level on points with Manchester City on Saturday night as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to the hands of Pep Guardiola.
A first-half injury to Alvaro Morata completely changed the game for Antonio Conte’s men, before they eventually succumbed to a brilliant goal from former Blue Kevin De Bruyne.
Here are four things we learned from the defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Morata injury crucial for Chelsea
The Spaniard was seen limping out of the clash against Atletico Madrid during the week, making him a doubt for Saturday’s game.
Details continued to emerge later into the game on Saturday and it appears that Conte was aware that the Spaniard may not have been able to last the full 90 minutes.
Despite the injury worries, Morata actually started the game very well and was a focal point for Chelsea, testing the City backline, getting in behind with neat runs and clever touches.
With 35 minutes on the clock Morata pulled up and was taken off for Willian, rather than Michy Batshuayi and from then on, it became a case of hanging on for the Blues.
Michy Batshuayi still not trusted
Conte described the decision to bring on Willian over Batshuayi as one that had the aim of exploiting the space behind the City defence, but, by bringing on the Brazilian, he actually stifled the Chelsea attack even more.
The Belgian may not have convinced everybody since arriving at the club but he is an out and out striker if nothing else. Chelsea missed the presence of a striker and had no out ball without Morata leading the line.
While the decision to bring on Willian is understanding, with the aim of closing the gap between the wingers and the midfield three, it turned out to be the wrong decision.
Batshuayi would have been full of confidence after his midweek winner against Atletico, so why not give him a chance? He could have been far more effective than bringing him on in the 73rd minute.
Rudiger looking uncertain
Antonio Rudiger came into the back three on Saturday with Cesar Azpilicueta moving to right wing-back.
Possibly as a sign of a respect for Manchester City’s attacking talents, but it does limit the attacking threat down the right-hand side.
The German has done well when given the chance this season but looked uncertain throughout the game against City.
He did make an outstanding goalline block but struggled to deal with the athletism and speed of City’s attack.
Age old argument about Kevin De Bruyne
‘Chelsea should never have let him go!’ Yes, those same words that we hear every time Chelsea come up against Manchester City.
Some context is needed when looking at the Belgian. When Chelsea sold the player to Wolfsburg back in 2014, he was absolutely nowhere near the world-class attacker that he has developed into.
Did Chelsea know he was going to be that good? Yes probably, the signs were always there at Stamford Bridge.
He was a young player, with questions raised about his attitude at the time, Chelsea was probably a club too soon for him, as proved by his time in the Bundesliga before his move back to the Premier League.
Chelsea also received £18 million for someone who the manager at the time didn’t fancy. It was good business in that period. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it was obviously never meant to be for De Bruyne at Chelsea.
