FA CUP SEMIFINALS: CHELSEA VS MAN CITY

Introduction

Chelsea vs Manchester City FA CUP clash! This game will be a tactical feast. Tuchel is a master of mixing tactics wherever he has been, famously known as the ”Hybrid tactician” and Pep has ideas that always help to even beat top managers and leaving them baffled, even the likes of Jose Mourinho.

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Why Should You be Watching?

The two managers with high European and domestic pedigree have faced each other a total of 9 times. With Pep winning 5 and Tuchel winning just one. In fact, Guardiola is the manager Tuchel has faced the most times without claiming a single victory over. Tuchel will be wanting to change the trend in this match and hopefully win his first domestic trophy with Chelsea.

Build Up

Both had won their respective quarter-final ties in the UCL. They will be high in morale to win this crucial semifinal tie. Manchester City has already bagged the PL title and will be looking to win this match as they will look to win the domestic quadruple for the second time under Pep. Whereas Chelsea will be looking to get their first title under Tuchel. Their respective ties in the UCL don’t necessarily favor them so they will hope to win this to get some confidence before facing their opponents.

Chelsea form: WLWWL

Man city form: WWWLW

Team News Predicted Lineups

Chelsea

N’Golo Kante has been declared fit for Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City. 

But Thomas Tuchel will be without the injured Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen. 

Tuchel has no other injury concerns for the game at Wembley 

                 Mendy

 Azpilicueta,  Silva, Rudiger

James ,Kante, Jorginho, Chillwell

        Ziyech, Mount

             Havertz

Manhester city

Bernando Silva is expected to be deployed in a false 9 position. Pep Guardiola always has the tendency to play a false 9 in big games since his Barcelona days.

Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of the game due to an ongoing muscular problem, leaving Gabriel Jesus as the only striker option.

Raheem Sterling was left on the bench for the win on Wednesday, though should come back in. Phil Foden was outstanding having been selected ahead of Sterling, but Guardiola insists both could thrive in the same team.

                Ederson

Mendy, Stones, Dias, Walker

Gundogan, De bruyne, Rodri

Foden, Bernardo, Sterling

Head to Head

In recent seasons the team has faced each other 5 times with City winning 4 and Chelsea just salvaging 1 win. In the F.A cup, they both have not met each other in the last 5 seasons giving no psychological advantage to either side. However, the city has never found it that hard to beat Chelsea whether it be home or away. This Chelsea side is a different one. It is built on a solid defense only second to Manchester City and also a much more dominant one which could turn the tie in their favor.

Players to Watch Out For

Chelsea

Ziyech

As seen from his time at Ajax his ability to play cross-field long balls from anywhere on the pitch is crucial to launching counter-attacks and slowing down the play when required, he is also very easy on the eye when on the ball due to his control. If he is up to play he can easily be the difference between the two sides which unfortunately has not happened enough for him at Chelsea this season.

Azpilicueta

His experience, versatility and leadership will come in handy in big matches as he has shown in the past .An overall solid player whenever called upon. Despite having thiago silva at the back who is usually very reliable at times his pace and the basic fact that he is not as good in his early days means that Azpilicuetas’s assistance to this cause will be very pivotal.

Manchester city

Foden

The young kid from city’s  academy hailed as one of the best youngsters  from the premier league has shown that his guile and ability to provide key goals and assists.He has more often than not taken his chances to prove his talent ,this is just another match to prove his growing reputation.

Bernardo silva

During his arrival he had proved that he was a workhorse and that he is a player with a never say die attitude. He does have great awareness of spaces which might be the reason the reason that Pep deploys him in a false as Gabriel jesus has not delivered as much in that position.

Conclusion

Tuchel has been a solid manager wherever he has been. Having overcome most of the challenges he has faced he might have just enhanced his reputation or will he be judged if he doesn’t win matches when it matters? This match will provide us answers. As the defense has improved we will hopefully see a match that keeps us on the edge of our seats against a city side that will prove to be a test for them with all their world-class stars upfront.

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