Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3: Sergio Aguero nets hat-trick as Thibaut Courtois is sent off on Kevin De Bruyne's Stamford Bridge return

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Simon Johnson16 April 2016

Of all the mistakes Chelsea have made in the transfer market in recent years, Kevin De Bruyne will be regarded by many as the worst.

There are a few other candidates of course, including Petr Cech, Ryan Bertrand, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku, but De Bruyne is now regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Chelsea fans longed to see him dictating play at Stamford Bridge one day and this evening they got their wish.

The problem was the Belgium star was doing it in the garish ghost green shirts worn by the opposition in Manchester City.

De Bruyne's name was sung loud and clear - but by the grateful away fans as he led his former club a merry dance.

City's following in the away stand enjoyed reminding all those in the ground that the attacking midfielder was in fact a 'Chelsea reject'.

It should be pointed out that when De Bruyne was sold to Wolfsburg for £18m in 2014, there were few complaints from the natives.

The sum was large given he had barely played for the first team and rarely shone when the manager at the time, Jose Mourinho, gave him the opportunity to do so.

Mourinho thought that Oscar was the better all-round player and when the title was won last term, the protests were even more conspicuous by their absence.

It should be pointed out that Mourinho never wanted to sell De Bruyne anyway, but the Belgian made it clear he wanted to leave.

Mind you, his desire to depart is perhaps understandable when you consider he made just five measly starts after joining from Genk for £7m in 2012.

Still, Chelsea didn't appear to have the patience or willing to allow De Bruyne to develop in the senior side, which is why it is so important they don't repeat the mistake with Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

With Oscar apparently unwell, Loftus-Cheek was given the chance to start against genuinely top class opposition in the No10 role after performing well against Aston Villa and Swansea.

There is no doubt his is still very much a raw talent and there are as many mistakes as positives in his game.

However, the England Under-21 international was one of Chelsea's better players in a display which showed just why they are so far adrift in mid-table.

There was plenty of intent from the outset, indeed one beautiful turn saw him run free into the area and force a save from Hart.

Just after half-time, with the home side already trailing 1-0 at the break, he also came closest to scoring, sending one shot over the bar and just failing to convert a form cross from Pedro.

But it shouldn't be up to a 20-year-old to save Chelsea from their current malaise. As always though, the more handsomely paid internationals around him wearing blue failed to deliver.

Chelsea vs Manchester City Player Ratings

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Buoyed from their progression to the Champions League semi-finals in midweek, Manchester City showed that they are now in a different league - well in Europe anyway.

And it is De Bruyne, who City paid £55m for last summer, who has helped get them there.

It was his break and assist for Sergio Aguero that put the visitors in front just after the half hour mark.

De Bruyne also started the breakaway in impressive fashion that led to Aguero doubling City's lead nine minutes after the break.

Chelsea were so poor defensively throughout and their misery was complete when Thibaut Courtois, who had helped keep the scoreline down, was sent off for upending Fernandinho in the area and Aguero completed his hat-trick from the spot.

A lot of decisions will be made under new manager Antonio Conte in the summer, but as this game showed, they must be careful who comes in and who goes.

Loftus-Cheek is by no means the finished article, but neither was De Bruyne two years ago. The latter is now, but for Manchester City and Chelsea must make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

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