Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
If these two sides were to meet at this point of the season then usually it would be a title decider but with 10th place playing host to 4th this Evening that scenario couldn’t be any further from the case. Will the Champions look to get one over their fellow cash rich rivals and put a spanner in the works of Manchester City’s top 4 hopes.
Guus Hiddink finally tasted Premier League defeat since taking charge for a second time as his Chelsea side fell 1-0 to Swansea last Saturday at The Liberty Stadium. That means that Chelsea have nothing really to play for and could arguably find themselves going through the motions if they haven’t been already.
It was again a much changed side at the Weekend as Hiddink as more licence to chop and change his lineups. Asmir Begovic started last Saturday but I would expect Thibaut Courtois to come back in for the visit of a City side who off the back of a Champions League victory in Midweek.
Their 1-0 win over PSG was enough to see them through and they have been rewarded for their endeavor with a Semi Final pairing with Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. With City in 4th they will now aim to get as many wins under their belt before that game to all but wrap up 4th spot and then allow themselves to focus solely on winning the Champions League outright.
It might not have been the ideal draw but whoever they were paired with was never going to be easy but that said anyone who is in this stage of the tournament has a good a chance as any so it would be remiss to write City off of Champions League glory.
First though they need to make sure they have the insurance policy of a Top 4 finish and they can enhance their chances with a win over Chelsea. Although Chelsea are done and dusted in terms of their season they will still want to get one over their old rivals and don’t forget the last time these two sides met at Stamford Bridge Chelsea handed out a F.A. Cup thumping albeit too a much weakened City side.
I think City will look to use the momentum from Tuesday’s win and carry it onto the league and with Kevin De Bruyne firing on all cylinders they look as dangerous as they have all season. I’m going to go for a City win and solidifying their Top 4 spot.
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