Venue: City of Manchester Stadium
Date: Saturday, 25 September
Kick-off: 1245 BST
Much has been made of our ‘easy’ start to the season, so today’s game against City is a chance to put that one to bed – as long as we beat them obviously. It’s certainly looked easy enough for us in the league so far but let’s not forget we ‘haven’t played anyone yet’!
Neither of us got a result in the Carling Cup midweek but the sides we put out then won’t compare to the sides we put out today. But whilst Mancini’s been whingeing about only having 11 players 100% fit, Carlo Ancelotti seems to take ours on board without feeling the need to broadcast them.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Ahead of today’s game, City boss Roberto Mancini tries the ‘distract them with a bit of flattery’ technique, stating “Chelsea are the best team in the Premier League at the moment. They are probably going to win the Premier League title easily. They are a strong team, who have been playing together for many years. They have a fantastic manager (Carlo Ancelotti) and they have worked to reach this situation,”
Carlo Ancelotti, in his usual unbothered manner responds “I agree with him. It’s not a mind game, I know him very well and so he knows us very well. He knows our ability. You have to build a mentality of a team. He doesn’t have an easy job, he is doing his best. I hope the club appreciate it. He’s very competitive manager because he has experience, he has ability to read the game. It’s a very good relationship, we were team-mates in the national team in the past. I met him two months ago in Manchester, the relationship is very good.”
Of our ‘easy’ start and today’s opponents, Ancelotti says “Every game is easy after you win 6-0. You can say it was easy then. Before every game it is difficult. We started the season well but now we have another game, a different opponent and City are a strong team, they have a lot of players with a lot of skills. We have to prepare for the game well and do our best to play our football for 90 minutes. City have a possibility to win the title. They didn’t start so well this Premier League but they have a possibility. They have time to come back to first place in the table. Carlos Tevez is the most dangerous player of Man City. He has quality, he has power, he has a very good mentality. I appreciate his kind of play and we need to pay attention.”
SQUAD NEWS
As if we didn’t already know about City’s injuries ahead of this game, let’s have a recap. Balotelli, Wright-Phillips (both knee), Bridge (thigh), Kolarov, Nimely (both ankle) and Richards (hamstring), all miss out. Boateng (knee) and Lescott (groin) face late fitness tests but Adebayor (leg) makes a return.
For Chelsea, Lampard (hernia), Bosingwa (knee), Kalou (thigh), Benayoun (calf) and Kakuta (back) are all on the missing list. John Terry should return after managing 45 minutes midweek.
TEAMS
MAN CITY(from): Hart, Given, Zabaleta, Kompany, K Toure, Boyata, Cunningham, Lescott, Boateng, Silva, De Jong, Y Toure, Barry, Vieira, Milner, Johnson, Tevez, Adebayor, Jo, Santa Cruz.
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda, Ferriera, Borini, Bruma, Zhirkov, Sturridge, Turnbull, Van Aanholt, McEachran.
LAST SEASON
Man City 2-1 Chelsea (5 December 2009)
REFEREE
Andre Marriner
PREDICTION
City have only won 3 from their last 10 Premier League games. Chelsea, on the other hand, have scored 54 goals in the last 13 Premier League games, averaging 4.2 goals per game since the start of this season and conceding just once. No other team has won more Premier League games at City than us either. On the down side though, they beat us home and away last season, so this one definitely won’t be like our first five this season.
