By Henry Vinter | 22 December 2055
Just three days ago, Chelsea had to scrap, fight, and claw their way past Tottenham in a street fight. Tonight, against Manchester City, they put on a tuxedo and delivered a masterclass.
Any fears that the “War of North London” had drained Calin Dimario’s men were dispelled in devastating fashion. In front of a raucous Drogba Arena, Chelsea dismantled a shell-shocked Manchester City 5-0, extending their improbable winning streak to 19 consecutive matches across all competitions.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement that the Premier League title race is not only over—it has been dismantled, packed up, and stored in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet before Christmas.
The Stoppage Time Dagger
For 44 minutes, City looked like they might survive the onslaught. Pelé had given Chelsea an early lead in the 9th minute with a “well-struck effort”, but the visitors were hanging on.
Then came two minutes of madness that ended the contest.
In first-half stoppage time, Joseph Haigh—the winger who simply cannot stop scoring—doubled the lead with a “skidding drive”. It is his 5th goal in 4 games. The “Concerned” star is playing like a man possessed.
Seconds later, before City could even regroup, right-back Rogério José surged forward to smash home a “powerful close range effort”. 1-0 became 3-0 in the blink of an eye. Game over.
The Rogério José Show
While the forwards filled their boots, the architect of this destruction was undoubtedly Rogério José.
Operating from right-back, the Brazilian produced a performance of complete dominance, earning a staggering 9.2 match rating and the Player of the Match award.
He didn’t just score; he controlled the entire right flank. He completed 11 progressive passes, registered 4 key passes, and provided an assist. In a team of Galacticos, it was the defender who looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch.
The Bench of Nightmares
The second half was an exercise in cruelty. Dimario turned to his bench, bringing on Scott Crichton and Júnior. Naturally, they both scored.
Crichton, fresh from his heroics against Leeds, added the fourth with a “rifled drive” in the 61st minute. Then, deep in stoppage time, Júnior rubbed salt in the wound with a placed shot that survived a VAR check to make it 5-0.
When your substitutes are scoring goals of that quality, the opposition doesn’t stand a chance.
Statistical Brutality
The numbers paint a grim picture for Manchester City. Chelsea fired 21 shots to City’s 5. The Expected Goals (xG) battle ended 2.71 vs 0.27. It was total domination.
The machine rolls on to Boxing Day. 19 wins in a row. The only question left for Fulham on Sunday is not whether they can win, but how long they can hold out before the floodgates open.