Premier League Round Up - City claim early advantage in title race

Pedro gives Chelsea a boost in more ways than one.

Chelsea will be delighted that they have Pedro in their side. He provides a new way to approach games, with his own particular talents. Even though Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are one of the best collection of supporting forwards in the Premier League, Pedro’s presence has reinvigorated the side with just one performance. His pace and creativity, added to his eye for goal, gives the side something new, and novelty helps existing squad players to find joy in playing for the same time. An experienced winner at his peak age, he is a player any side would welcome.

Which is why it’s even better for Chelsea to have denied Manchester United. United were still trying to buy him when Chelsea stepped in, and now United will have the dual pain of struggling to deal with teams like Newcastle United when they sit back, and also seeing their rivals succeed. Though unless United improve soon, they will not be rivals to Chelsea in any meaningful sense.

And lastly, Chelsea have had a miserable start to the season, losing to their one true rival for the league last week, and watching Mourinho bring trouble to his club for no good reason, stirring up a problem with his club doctors. It is far easier to create a morale-sapping problem when times are exacting and games are being lost. A return to winning with Pedro’s help could go some way to improving the club’s spirit.

Of course, all that is easier if the club captain and the defensive heart of the club for the last decade, John Terry, keeps himself out of the news. Last week he was subbed at half time, just as the rumours of a move for John Stones were getting into gear, and this weekend he was sent off for a hapless foul on Salomon Rondon, who was leaving him behind as he ran towards goal. It’s still too early to write off Terry, but Chelsea were just about to finish the weekend with entirely encouraging signs. Now there is more for Mourinho to discuss, or distract others from discussing.

Manchester City have leapfrogged Chelsea as early season favourites

After three games, it is obviously too soon to make definitive judgements on any side, particularly before the transfer window shuts. But there are hints as to what could occur in the near future. Essentially, Chelsea have been nowhere near as convincing as City have in the first three matches.

Chelsea were lucky with injuries and suspensions last year, but it was still clear that they suffered from fatigue by rarely rotating their first 11. The addition of Radamel Falcao has done little for the attack, though the purchase of Pedro, as explained, could be a huge benefit. However, until Chelsea add another central defender and another central midfielder, they run the risk of injuries dragging the side down. Indeed, the suspension of John Terry could do that in their next game.

Last season, City seemed bereft of commitment and many of the players seemed to believe they could sit out Manuel Pellegrini’s last season. However, Pellegrini remains, they have strengthened well with Fabian Delph, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Otamendi and probably Kevin De Bruyne. Even better than that, the players from 2014/15 finally seem interested in playing for their manager as well as their careers. They are organised at the back, creative and lethal in attack.

Of course, Chelsea might still add John Stones and another midfielder to the squad, at which point the early judgements would have to be reappraised, but as Mourinho demonstrated in his first two seasons at Chelsea in the early 2000s, it can be devastating to opponents’ morale if you gather as many early points as possible. Indeed, he tried the same tactic last year, too. City have started the season more impressively than any contender for the title, and for now can consider themselves in charge of the title race.

Manchester United have little over a week to secure Champions League football

That’s not because they play Club Brugge in the return leg of their qualifier, but because the transfer window shuts in just over a week’s time. If United want to play in the Champions League in 2016/17, then they need to finish at least fourth. They could, in theory, qualify by winning either the trophy itself this year or the Europa League if they fail to negotiate the group stages. But that isn’t going to happen, at least definitely not in a Champions League with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona. Unless they address the deficiencies of the squad in the next few days then they will attack an entire year with no striker capable of leading the side, and two other clear weaknesses.

On the wings, Juan Mata demonstrates why he cannot be considered a viable option. He’s slow and crossing is not his talent - he should be a number 10, with players around him to aim for. At number 10 is Adnan Januzaj, who is prone to falling over due to an obvious lack of strength, and a propensity to dive. Even in defence - despite no Premier League goals conceded - playing Daley Blind is asking for trouble against the better and quicker attacks to come. In all likelihood they will be required to replace David de Gea too, and yet they are dragging their heels.

Ed Woodward failed to address one of the problems when he fouled up the Pedro deal through complacency, and he is currently gallivanting the globe in pursuit of another superstar. That’s all very well, as long as he gets the squad the players it needs too. Yet there’s no sign of any imminent success on either front. Felipe Anderson, Gareth Bale, Alexandre Pato and Sadio Mane have all been linked in the last week - it’s time to see if United are more competent off the field than they are on it. Most fans have now reached their boredom threshold, and patience will soon start to run out.