Chelsea vs Manchester City-preview
Posted on | August 20, 2006 | No Comments
English champions Chelsea will look to start their season in style when they host Stuart Pearce’s Manchester City on Sunday.With Liverpool and Arsenal both dropping points on the opening day,a win for the Blues will ensure that their archrivals will be under pressure after just one game of the season.
Jose Mourinho,though,does have some headaches.The defence looked anything but settled in the Community Shield loss against Liverpool.William Gallas was sorely missed,but it is unlikely that he will be fielded in this game after stating his desire to leave the Bridge.There will be no Damien Duff,no Eidur Gudjohnsen or Hernan Crespo with the trio having left in the recent transfer window.Petr Cech,Joe Cole , Robert Huth and Geremi will almost certainly miss this game due to injuries.Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele are also suffering from similar problems and their absence will definitely weaken the Chelsea midfield.This means that the likes of Lassana Diarra and Salomon Kalou will make an appearance. Upfront new signing Andriy Shevchenko will be looking forward to scoring his first Premiership goal after netting one against Liverpool last week in the Community Shield.His finishing ability as demonstrated by that goal in Cardiff, is easily amongst the best in the world. Carlo Cudicini will again step in for the injured Cech in goal.
Manchester City are a club with modest means and they haven’t made any big splashes in the transfer market unlike their compatriots from Stamford Bridge.But they have made some pretty decent signings–Ousman Dabo,Dietmar Hamann,Bernado Corradi and Paul Dickov among them. With Joey Barton and Micah Richards both putting pen to paper new contracts,two of City’s future stars have pledged their immediate future to the club. Veteran David James has left for Portsmouth though and therefore a debut looks imminent for Swedish stopper Andreas Isaksson.Sylvain Distin was given permission to talk to Middlesborough ,but that move hasn’t materialised as of yet.Ex Liverpool and Bayern medio Didi Hamann will also make his maiden appearance for the club despite a slight niggle. It will be interesting to see who partners Georgios Samaras upfront.Dickov,Vassell and Corradi will all be contesting for that spot.Andy Cole is an injury doubt.
City were the only team to have defeated Chelsea in the 2004-2005 season where the Blues notched up a whopping 95 points.They will be looking to take inspiration from that.Chelsea have injury worries and their players are by no means in the best of form and condition.What has plagued City over the years if their inconsistency and if they manage to overcome that,we may see Chelsea dropping points at the Bridge,their impregnable home fortress.I predict Chelsea to win 1-0, although I would not be surprised to see City return home with a point.
Related posts:
- Chelsea v Manchester City preview
- Chelsea vs Manchester City preview- Premier League
- Birmingham City vs Chelsea preview
- Premiership Manchester City v Liverpool
- Manchester United vs Chelsea betting preview- 8 May 2011