Felipe Scolari has, in recent days, argued his squad is strong enough to face all challenges in the first-half of the season. On Saturday in Manchester, he believes the proof was seen.

On the back of dropped points against Spurs last game, followed by Michael Essien's injury and then going 1-0 down in this match from what the manager declared a mistake, he began to see tension in his group.

Yet by the final whistle he had witnessed a win so enjoyable against a side with much to prove that not even John Terry's red card could tarnish the occasion. Robinho's arrival and the start of a new era in Manchester had fallen a little flat.

'We won away and it is important to win three points away,' he said before heading back south.

'After we scored my team controlled the game, not all the time but most of the time. We were many times in front of goal and we added another two goals. We had some injuries and I made changes but the players came into the team and played very well and this is what made me happy more than winning 3-1.'

Scolari highlighted a problem with free-kick defending as having allowed Robinho's free-kick opener on 13 minutes.

'There were nerves because when they make the wall, they have some mistake and this made a goal. Robinho does well. After this for one or two minutes, it is normal that players say things to each other but then after three minutes we made a goal, and it is important this goal.'

Ricardo Carvalho's supreme reaction speed and technique had steadied the ship and Chelsea took the upperhand.

'In the middle we faced a big fight today and we controlled it more times than Man City, but Man City played very well.'

City manager Mark Hughes enjoyed the whole occasion and the game and was prepared to complement his old club's display.

'Good teams usually pick the right pass at the right time and as soon as you go behind against Chelsea, it is very difficult, even if they go down to 10 men,' Hughes said, admitting some of his new players had been exposed to what the Premier League is all about.

'Chelsea were excellent in the second half, in waiting for you, setting traps for you and they have the key personnel who can exploit it.

'It was a fair result and it wasn't a reality check for us, we know where we are in our development.'

Scolari refused to comment on John Terry's red card for pulling back Jo after Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka had given Chelsea a two-goal lead. He wishes to view the incident again.

Whoever comes in for the suspended captain against Man United is likely to have the faith of the manager.

'My players want to play. They have confidence. They like each other and because of that they are prepared to contribute more than.

On Tuesday I will say to [Michael] Ballack you can play 45, 60, 70 minutes but we saw today with Mikel, I say before that he play 60 minutes and he played 93 minutes. All the players when they come in play very well.'

Finally Scolari had a word for defeated compatriot Robinho, the two having embraced before kick-off.

'I wished him all the best in the future. I like him, he is my friend and I am happy he made one goal against Chelsea because after, we made three.'