Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City revolution got off to the perfect start as 10-man Newcastle were crushed 4-0 at Eastlands on Monday.
Pellegrini was hired by City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners to revitalise a team that surrendered the Premier League title to Manchester United last season and the Chilean’s new players responded by delivering a stylish victory in his first match in charge.
With title rivals United and Chelsea both winning under new management over the weekend, it was essential that former Malaga boss Pellegrini kept pace at the top.
City delivered emphatically as Spanish midfielder David Silva headed the opener in the sixth minute and Argentina forward Sergio Aguero steered in the second in the 22nd minute.
Yaya Toure’s superb 50th minute free-kick made it three and Samir Nasri came off the bench to complete the demolition with a cool finish 15 minutes from full-time.
Chelsea alert for visit of Villa
After a triumphant homecoming as Chelsea manager at the weekend, Jose Mourinho must steel his side for Wednesday’s visit of a buoyant Aston Villa.
The Portuguese made his return to the home dug-out at Stamford Bridge after six years away, overseeing a 2-0 defeat of Hull City.
Mourinho’s men though can expect a more searching examination at the hands of Paul Lambert’s Villa, who stunned Arsenal 3-1.