Never before has a heavy defeat been greeted with such appreciation by Manchester City fans.
And yet, the young team Manuel Pellegrini put out at Stamford Bridge, against the reigning champions, fully justified his decision.
Pellegrini took a huge gamble by throwing five youngsters in for their full debuts.
The knives were not just being sharpened before the game, they were already out and being wielded, as BBC pundit Graeme Le Saux accused City of disrespecting the FA Cup.
Given the fact that the Blues strongly protested the switching of the tie to a Sunday, when they have a Champions League game in Kiev three days later, they have a damned cheek.
It would be easy to suggest that the FA and the BBC disrespect the competition, by associating it with a brand of lager, and by blithely switching ties for their own convenience, and with no thought for clubs who are flying the English standard in European competition.
Pellegrini's team selection was a big two-fingered salute to both of them.
But it also looked odd to City fans. They have been clamouring for Pellegrini to give youth its head for the last two and a half seasons.
But for a man who was brought in on a “holistic" ticket, he has been strangely reticent to do so.
Even when situations have cried out for a debutant, he has resisted, sometimes stubbornly.
So to suddenly hand full debuts to five players – Tosin Adarabioyo, Aleix Garcia, Manu Garcia, Bersant Celina and David Faupala – looked like he was doing the right thing, but for the wrong reasons.
From the moment the teams were announced, the script was that Chelsea would smash the City kids.
But the young Blues began brilliantly, with Faupala twisting past Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic to fire in a shot beaten away by Thibault Courtois.
They were dogged and disciplined in defence, with young Chorlton lad Adarabioyo excellent, and Manu Garcia grew in stature.
Manu Garcia buzzed around the box like David Silva to feed Faupala, who slipped a pass for Kelechi Iheanacho and then darted into the six-yard box to get on the end of the return ball.
Chelsea ran away with it in the second half with goals from Willian, Cahill, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore, but that fails to tell the full story.
Chelsea, as you would expect, dominated possession but City were bright and inventive in possession and, if anything it was senior pros Willy Caballero, Martin Demichelis and Aleks Kolarov who were the biggest let-downs.
City found new heroes in Faupala, Manu Garcia and Adarabioyo – names we will see more of in the future.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-citys-kids-proud-against-10925339
Chelsea v City - Afterthoughts
posted on 21/2/16
Time will tell, I don't think we've invested all that money in the acadamy to give players away as soon as they reach 21.
posted on 21/2/16
comment by Boris 'Inky' Gibson (U5901)
posted 9 minutes ago
I thought your young lads looked very good in parts, particularly their passing. That goalie though
The power of biased commentrary. He pulled off 2 point-blank saves and saved a penalty despite having an 'experimental' back 4 and MF in front of him. He's not Lev Yashin but not as bad as the BBC were determined to make him out as.
They said during the warm up his form was 'erratic', he's the GK that has been a constant in the sides that got us to the COC Final and the 5th round of this cup.
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Fair comment
posted on 21/2/16
My main gripe is the appalling management of the young players where they've had no game time whatsoever when there has been ample opportunity for them to gain much needed experience
An example is with 10 mins to go in the cup game against Palace when 4-0 up he brought on Demichellis rather than give one of the kids on the bench a run out
Caballero was poor today,there's no escaping that but I thought Demichelis Kolorov and Fernando were at least as poor,in kolorovs case he was wretched
posted on 21/2/16
Watched the first 55 mins or so, and from what I saw the youths did alright. The striker looked quite a handful.
While there's an argument that you could have played a stronger lineup ahead of the Kiev game in the knowledge that you could potentially turn around any deficit in the 2nd leg (or wrap it up after the first), I say good on you for picking the lineup you did today.
Liverpool got a Friday night game in the 3rd round ahead of their COC semi-final on the Tuesday, so why couldn't the BBC give you Saturday lunchtime or evening for example?
posted on 21/2/16
so its pick on the old hands ,I saw the youth team v MU and they were lacklustre and inadequate especially the midfield players,there was more effort from them today but they still look like they are never going to make the step up ,that's all 3 midfielders who started with Fernando,not good enough never will be
posted on 21/2/16
Liverpool got a Friday night game in the 3rd round ahead of their COC semi-final on the Tuesday, so why couldn't the BBC give you Saturday lunchtime or evening for example?
I think Chelsea wouldn't agree to a Friday game because they played in Paris on Tuesday night.
Jeez, they were probably back in London before American Dad started.
posted on 21/2/16
Agree with pplf. Pell's handling of the young players has been shocking. Just far too stubborn. The athleticism and effort put in today put some of the lazy senior players to shame
posted on 22/2/16
Oh dear
Your billion pound sqUad can't handle a few games, shocking
posted on 22/2/16
Your billion pound squad isn't even in the top half of the table, hilarious.
posted on 22/2/16
Firstly the squad isn't worth a billion, grow up!
You are aware of our injury problems so I take it you just ignored that to make that comment.
Which made you look stupid.