If only they could play Chelsea every week. Manchester City capitalised on their routine 3-0 demolition of West Bromwich Albion on matchday one in the Premier League by doing similar to Jose Mourinho's bedraggled Blues. On the evidence of it, Chelsea are closer to West Brom than they are to City, despite what the manager might say about it.
"If 1-0 was a doubtful result at minute 70, 3-0 is completely fake," Mourinho spat to Sky Sports. "At 1-0 Chelsea were the best team for the whole second half.
"They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble."
Nonsense. City are setting a standard that might already be unachievable for the chasing pack. If this is how they deal with Chelsea, their title rivals at the start of the season, then what might be in store for Watford next week? This is a superb team playing exquite football and all the pieces slotted together in a profound, statement-making display against last season's Premier League champions.
Segio Aguero was afforded three or four clear chances to get his eye in before finally rolling the ball past Asmir Begovic for the opening goal. The ease with which he palmed off Cahill all afternoon will only expedite Mourinho's quest to bring in John Stones from Everton.
David Silva, the type of player Mourinho teams usually excel in snuffing out, found as much space as he needed. The gap between defence and midfield was all too big for Chelsea and the Spaniard profited; offering passes to Aguero and an assist to Kompany.
Raheem Sterling had Branislav Ivanovic exactly where he wanted him; while he lost out on the physical side to the Serb, his nippiness in attack meant he could go past the full back at will. Fernandinho dominated the midfield landscape and fired home the third.
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