Manchester City got off to a flyer in the 2024/2025 Premier League season by already winning their first game against a ‘Big Six’ side like Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday — with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.
With their latest victory, Pep Guardiola and his players sent a message to the rest of the league that they are ready to go the distance once again.
Manchester City might not have played their best football against Enzo Maresca’s side but champions can get results regardless of their performances.
Considering star players like Phil Foden, Rodri, John Stones and Bernardo Silva were not deemed ready to start at Stamford Bridge, the fact that they still beat Chelsea speaks volumes of their class as a side.
In theory, it should be a cardinal sin for fans and pundits alike to excessively slate this City side and their players due to how many trophies they have won in recent years.
Defoe makes fresh observation surrounding Erling Haaland
Yet, it seems some tend to learn the hard way as the English juggernaut respond to the criticism they face with a piece of silverware or multiple in their hands at the end of the season.
Manchester City have raised the bar for the rest of the teams in the Premier League; prompting questions towards them and their players once they even dip slightly below their sky-high standards for once.
However, elite clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona can perhaps relate to often being harshly judged in such a manner as well.
As Haaland reached 91 goals in 100 total appearances for Manchester City, Jermain Defoe questioned why he faced as much as stick as he did last season — with the star striker being one figure in particular at the club whose flaws are often microanalysed due to his lofty status in world football.
Defoe told Premier League Productions via Optus Sport: “I don’t even know what to say anymore about him. 91 goals in 100 appearances. Before he came, everyone was excited about [Erling] Haaland in the Premier League but to come and do that, to get that criticism last season was strange to me.”
Tony Cascarino slammed Haaland ahead of City’s win against Chelsea for having “little impact” in games.
Haaland silenced his doubters against Chelsea
The £51 million man made a mockery of his critics with yet another decisive display for Manchester City against the West London side.
Ultimately, Haaland is a player who will continue to divide opinion due to being an elite goalscorer who does not have as well-rounded a game as world-class strikers from previous generations — from Ronaldo Nazario to Karim Benzema.
However, the 24-year-old’s incredible goalscoring record is one that cannot be undermined and considering a striker’s primary job is to put the ball into the back of the net, it is baffling that whether it is last season or in his debut campaign that his uniqueness is not admired as much as it deserves to be.
But once again, Haaland stepped up for City against Chelsea when they most needed him to — while his pressing and back-to-goal play was also impressive.
As Jermain Defoe claimed, the Norwegian has redefined goalscoring standards in the Premier League and for him to continue to be slated is bizarre.
