Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 25 November
Kick-off: 16.00
I don’t really know what to say about this game if I’m honest.
Big game, certainly, but almost pornographic from the press point of view because Chelsea have left themselves completely exposed now. After yet another sacking and yet another replacement has been brought in, Chelsea have laid bare their agenda. With complete disregard for anyone outside the boardroom, they’ve hired a man with no respect for the club whatsoever on the basis that he makes a mean paella.
Enough about Manuel though. It’s anyone’s guess where our players’ heads will be at for this one, we come into the game off the back of a defeat to Juventus that’s left us in no-man’s land in the Champions League, right after the loss to West Brom in the Premier League last weekend. Just as well they haven’t got a manager who thinks they’re a bunch of plastics or we could really be in trouble today…..oh.
As for City, Mancini might be struggling to cut the mustard in the Champions League again this year but he’ll come into this game with his side top of the league and certainly in better form than his opponents.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Ahead of this game, FSW says……….. “Que?”
Roberto Mancini meanwhile, says “When a team changes their manager, the game after for the opponents is very difficult. So I think, for us, this game will be even more difficult. I think Chelsea were a good team with Roberto Di Matteo and they are a good team with Rafael Benitez. They can change their players in two days and they have fantastic players. They played, until maybe three games ago, fantastic football, and they were top of the table. So for us it will be difficult on Sunday. Chelsea are one of the best teams in England, in Europe. They have won everything in the last 10 years. To play Chelsea in London is always a good game. To win there could be very important for us.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, John Terry (knee) and Frank Lampard (calf) remain out, whilst Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) has been added to the injury list. Fernando Torres could return to the starting line-up.
For City, Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Micah Richards (knee) are out, Kompany (knee) faces a late fitness test although Gael Clichy (ankle) is available and Mario Balotelli (back) may also return.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Predicted line-up): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
MAN CITY (Predicted line-up): Hart; Maicon, Nastasic, Lescott, Kolarov; Barry, Toure; Nasri, Silva, Tevez; Aguero.
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 2-1 Man City (12th December 2011)
PREDICTION
This makes for grim reading, so anyone of a nervous disposition should look away now.
Despite winning 7 from 8 at the start of this campaign, we’re now without a win in our last four Premier League games. City meanwhile are unbeaten in their last 18 in the league and haven’t lost in the league this season. They’ve also got the best defence in the top flight, having conceded just 10 league goals so far whilst we’ve managed to concede nine goals in our last five Premier League games and we haven’t kept a clean sheet in seven in the league either. And whilst we lost our last domestic game to West Brom, City were busy putting 5 past Villa to go top of the league.
Do I really need to predict which way this will go?
Blue is the colour
