Chelsea's Best Chance to End City Drought?
Chelsea face Manchester City at the Etihad, buoyed by a recent win and City's exposed frailties, in what could be their best opportunity to break a 10-game winless streak against the reigning champions.
Original Source
BBC Sport
Written by
Steve Worrell
Chelsea’s trip to the Etihad comes at a critical juncture for both teams. Manchester City, reeling from a midweek collapse against Paris Saint-Germain, have shown vulnerabilities in defence, particularly at full-back. Meanwhile, Chelsea ended their five-game Premier League winless run with a convincing 3-1 victory over Wolves. With City struggling for consistency and Chelsea demonstrating renewed confidence, this clash could finally swing in the Blues' favour.
- Manchester City’s Vulnerabilities:
- City’s 4-2 loss to PSG highlighted defensive issues, particularly with Josko Gvardiol at left-back and Matheus Nunes out of position on the right.
- City’s full-backs struggled to handle PSG’s pacey wingers, raising concerns about similar threats from Chelsea.
- Chelsea’s Strategy:
- Wingers Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke will look to exploit City’s weak full-back areas by staying high and wide.
- Nicolas Jackson’s link-up play and Moises Caicedo’s tackling prowess could prove crucial in replicating PSG’s success against City.
- Recent Form:
- Chelsea ended their winless run with a 3-1 victory over Wolves, showing improved form under Enzo Maresca.
- City, despite a 6-0 win over Ipswich, are under pressure following their Champions League setback.
- Historical Context:
- Chelsea have not beaten City in 10 attempts since their Champions League final triumph in 2021.
- This fixture presents the most favourable conditions for Chelsea in recent memory, given City’s current defensive struggles.
- Confidence Boost:
- Chelsea’s resurgence under Maresca has revitalised their top-four hopes, while City’s uncharacteristic brittleness offers a rare opening for the Blues.
Analysis
Chelsea’s chances hinge on their ability to emulate PSG’s approach, exploiting City’s defensive fragility with pace and precision. While City remain dangerous, their current inconsistencies provide Chelsea with their best opportunity to end a long winless streak. A win at the Etihad could reignite Chelsea’s season and deal a significant blow to City’s domestic and European aspirations.
Copy article link
More On This Story
More sources covering the same story appear below 👇
Photo Credit
Getty
Written by
Steve Worrell
Steve, Co-founder of The 1905 Club, created the platform to provide honest, clickbait-free Chelsea FC content. He worked at Stamford Bridge from 2013 to 2016 with a Champions League sponsor. His first Chelsea match was a 1-0 win at Leeds in 2000, and his favourite was the epic 2012 Champions League game against Napoli.
