Man City v Chelsea live: Late Enzo Fernandez strike stuns hosts to boost Premier League leaders Arsenal | OneFootball

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Chelsea interim coach praises support from Boehly after Maresca exit

Manchester City were stunned by managerless Chelsea at the Etihad in a huge boost to Premier League leaders Arsenal, who now lead by six points.

Enzo Fernandez struck deep into stoppage time for the Blues, led by Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane, after the shock exit of Enzo Maresca.

It concluded an end-to-end second half with Pep Guardiola’s failing to punish the visitors after creating numerous chances.

The hosts dominated early but almost fell behind after a glorious chance for Estevao Willian, with the Brazilian’s strike blocked.

But moments after Erling Haaland’s thumping strike hit the woodwork, City took the lead after dominating the opening half. Tijjani Reijnders was forced wide, but unleashed a venomous left-footed strike that squeezed past stand-in goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen at the near post.

And Pedro Neto wasted a superb chance in the second half to equalise, with Enzo Fernandez’s footwork impressing, and the game opening up into a tense finale. And the Argentine found himself unmarked at the back post late on, sweeping home from close range to earn a precious point and boost the Gunners in the title race.

Micah Richards sets target for Liam Rosenior at Chelsea

“I think Champions League is realistic for this squad,” Richards says on Sky Sports.

“Chelsea can beat anybody on their day. As shown at the Club World Cup. Top four is realistic. Whether the fans want to hear that or not.

“That’s a realistic target.”

Jack Rathborn5 January 2026 02:00

How Chelsea’s ‘nobody’ exposed Enzo Maresca as dispensable

The incomparable against the unknown, the defining manager of the last couple of decades against one who, two days earlier, many Chelsea fans would have struggled to pick out of an identity parade. And yet if it promised to be one of the great managerial mismatches, it instead finished with the supposed nobody being celebrated by the Chelsea faithful.

Arsenal may want to thank him, too. Perhaps the title race was reshaped by Calum McFarlane. Pep Guardiola has had the occasional unlikely nemesis in the past – Nathan Jones once denied him a quadruple – and the latest was a former City academy coach; when Tijjani Reijnders seemed to have earned the Catalan a ninth win in 10 games, Enzo Fernandez instead came up with a 94th-minute leveller. “Everyone thought we were coming here to lose,” said McFarlane. “No one thought we stood a chance.”

How Chelsea’s ‘nobody’ exposed Enzo Maresca as dispensable

Man City 1-1 Chelsea: A supposed nobody, Calum McFarlane impressed by showing tactical variety to frustrate Pep Guardiola and then change the game to secure a deserved point for the Blues, with Liam Rosenior expected to replace Maresca next week

Richard Jolly5 January 2026 00:00

Daniel Sturridge identifies true role for Liam Rosenior at Chelsea

"He knows what they expect, he's worked in the group, we hear managers, coaches, there's a difference between the two. I believe they're hiring a coach,” Daniel Sturridge tells Sky Sports.

“It’s a tough job, he has to come in and hit the ground running. It’s happened so fast, that’s what I’m concerned with.

“Young English managers, as a club like Chelsea, few and far between.

“I would love him to do well. The expectation was a change, can we creep to the Champions League, a bit more, show the progress. Top four, now? that’s an achievement. A formation change? Will he work with the players. One thing to deal with.

“Then the expectation from the fanbase, historically what Chelsea do with managers, they’re all legends, but Liam has to come in and earn the respect of the players.”

Calum McFarlane reacts to Chelsea draw at Man City as interim boss

"For the two days we worked with them, they're open, I can't speak to my changes more, they bought into it and applied the changes,” McFarlane says.

“The group have been exceptional, as a staff, we couldn't ask for more, no egos, training has been brilliant. Enzo, Reece, Tosin... Levi, Cucu, Moi, the togetherness of the group is exceptional. 1-0 down, interim manager, players injured, the character is exceptional.”

Pep Guardiola left furious after Man City squander lead to Chelsea

“90 minutes,” a clearly riled Guardiola says when asked if he was happy with the first half.

“We lose easy balls to Tijjani, but the quality they have...

“The injuries, yes, the game, no, we didn’t suffer.

“Dias and Gvardiol], it doesn’t look good, we’ll see in a few days. It [the pressure] is what it is. We will have enough energy to get back.

“I cannot change it [the schedule]. I don’t know [if players will come back for Wednesday]. No idea [if it changes January transfer plans].”

Reece James reacts to Chelsea draw at Man City

“We know what level we can perform at, when we’re firing, the second half we grew into the game,” Reece James says.

“It was a credit to the staff that stepped up, they’ve not been in this role before, City away, first game, it’s difficult, we have to adapt fast. We had to make slight adjustments. A different plan.

“We are in a difficult moment, we have to stand as a unit, as one, many people travelled today that we missed. We fought as a team today. I’m proud of the boys. It’s difficult; we have to fight with each other. We go again, we got a point.”