Chelsea vs Manchester City: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis, Community Shield

#3 David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger is not an ideal partnership

David Luiz was poor in defence alongside Antonio Rudiger

For an ideal centre-back partnership to work, both defenders need to be on the same page with respect to committing or staying put. In Rudiger and Luiz, Chelsea have two defenders who are not.

A proactive and reactive defender has often been the best formula in central defence but both Luiz and Rudiger were reactive defenders in the game. Neither had the ability to read the game and identify danger until it was too late.

Manchester City should have been 2-0 up as soon as the second half kicked off. With Chelsea playing a high line, Aguero slipped through the offside trap to receive the ball in acres of space. It was only Caballero's desperate attempt to thwart his shot on goal that resulted in his Argentine compatriot shooting wide.

Commentators had a go at Luiz for allowing Aguero through but it was Rudiger who played him onside. With such a high line, the defender closest to the striker cannot be blamed.

But there was no question that Luiz was at fault when Aguero did make it 2-0. The angle of his body itself invited the pass for Aguero. The Brazilian defender could neither see Aguero stealing in behind him nor was he in a position to intercept the ball.

Desperate defending became the name of the game in the second half and City really should have scored more by full-time.