The scoreline, however, spat in the face of Chelsea's dominance both on and off the field. Goals from Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho, who cost Manuel Pellegrino's side a combined £75m, helped City to a curious 3-0 victory. We're not saying the physios were to blame for the defeat, but Christ, weren't they slow getting onto the pitch for Cahill's injury?
(The new South Stand is unveiled ahead of the new season - image via Manchester City Official Facebook)
As a blogger, one prides himself on unprejudiced reporting, but Manchester City's complete and utter dominance yesterday makes it easy, on this occasion, to be as subjective as the official match report submitted by Chelsea's website last night.
According to www.chelseafc.com, City used "WWE-style tactics" to wrestle their way to a 3-0 win that did not reflect "a game of very fine margins". Ironically, Spanish hitman Diego Costa, who was muscled out of the game by Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala, spent the entire 90 minutes preoccupied with annoying the more slender Fernandinho, but the Brazilian's preoccupancy with playing football steered his side to a comprehensive win.
Already this season, there is something different about Manuel Pellegrini's side. The hunger that fueled the team to the title two years ago has returned and when it couples with confidence, it creates a delicious recipe for success. As towering banners dropped and revealed the club's latest demonstration of intent on the world scale, the new South Stand bellowed. A triumphant atmosphere, so often absent at the Etihad last term, propelled the Sky Blues to their second consecutive win of the campaign.
Confidence is a powerful thing. At Manchester City, it has repaired limbs that many believed would never operate in the same way again and it has solidified a defence that was far too penetrable at times last season. Sergio Agüero sent John Terry to the bench, Vincent Kompany condemned Diego Costa to childishness and Fernandinho sliced through a midfield that kept Thibaut Courtois' goal so baron one year ago, but there were eight other men who also played their part in a sumptuous victory.
A game of fine margins
(Raheem Sterling had the beating of Branislav Ivanović throughout - image via Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
At £49m, one may expect goals upon goals and assists upon assists from Raheem Sterling. However, what the 20-year-old brings to the team is just as important.
Last season, City's midfield was imbalanced. On one side of pitch, out-and-out winger Jesus Navas clung to the touchline whilst David Silva or Samir Nasri floated into the centre of the pitch from the other flank. The left side therefore was often exposed with Aleksandar Kolarov tasked with handling attacks from down that side with very little help from his midfielder.
Sterling, like Navas, is a workhorse and tracked back into his own half on multiple occasions to nullify the threat of Willian and to prevent Branislav Ivanović from marauding forward. With Sterling and Navas in the side City look balanced and David Silva, our best player, has the freedom of his favoured number 10 role with no defensive responsibilities.
The chemistry between both Sagna and Navas and Sterling and Kolarov makes City a much more rigid force against counter attacks that so often punished us last campaign. We have both flanks, or margins, covered.
Kompany and Mangala: A capable couple
(Image via Manchester City Official Facebook)
After watching us crumble against Stuttgart in pre-season, I feared for the worst. Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala both struggled last term and it looked like the centre of defence would continue to be a problem heading into the 2015/2016 season.
But it hasn't. Between them, the pair won 71% of their duels, made nine clearances and registered six blocks in the home win over Chelsea and their handling of Diego Costa was excellent.
The pair, impenetrable thus far this term, look revitalised and now offer a goal threat from corners, too. Vincent Kompany nodded in his second consecutive header in two weeks to put City 2-0 up yesterday and with our captain in fine form, we have a leader leading by example. You can't underestimate how important that is.
It has been suggested that Mangala will be shipped out to Valencia on loan to facilitate a deal for Argentinian defender Nicolas Otamendi this week. If Manuel Pellegrini wishes to hinder the Frenchman's development, break up a partnership that is gaining strength and risk going through the same process all over again with a defender that has no Premier League experience; that would be a good move.
Player Ratings
Joe Hart 7
Bacary Sagna 8
Vincent Kompany 8
Eliaquim Mangala 8
Aleksandar Kolarov 8
Fernandinho 9
Yaya Touré 8
David Silva 8
Jesus Navas 8
Raheem Sterling 8Sergio Agüero 8.5
Substitutes
Wilfried Bony 7
Samir Nasri 7
Martin Demichelis 6
