Once viewed as title contenders, Chelsea and Manchester City meet on Saturday with both teams keenly aware that the outcome could significantly impact their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Chelsea (11-4-7, 40 points) currently holds fourth place, just ahead of City (11-6-5, 38 points) after overcoming a challenging spell that was largely overshadowed by City’s recent struggles. A 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton on Monday snapped Chelsea’s five-match winless streak in the league, during which they had only scored twice.
First-year Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faced inquiries this week regarding whether Manchester City’s form made this an opportune moment to play the four-time defending champions. He responded, “No. I don’t believe in these kinds of things. Typically, clubs of this caliber with high-quality players step up to show their prowess when facing difficulties.”
Notably, the win against Wolves came without contributions from Cole Palmer, who is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to play on Saturday. The 22-year-old has been instrumental for Chelsea, tallying 14 goals and six assists this season, accounting for nearly half of the team’s 44 league goals.
Fifth-placed City enters the match unbeaten in their last five league fixtures, including a dominant 6-0 win against Ipswich Town. However, their challenges in Europe continued with a 4-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain, dropping them to 25th in the UEFA Champions League table and outside the knockout spots.
“We’re very close in the table despite recent challenges,” City manager Pep Guardiola remarked about Chelsea. “This week is crucial, and our next two matches are finals for us. With our fans’ support, we aim to deliver strong performances and secure the necessary results.”
New signings Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis may all make their debuts for City on Saturday, with Marmoush likely to feature first after joining the club slightly earlier.
Credit: SuperSport