Chelsea FC will look to kick-start their season when they travel to The Etihad to take on Manchester City
Chelsea have had a bizarre start to the season. After reconvening for pre-season training much later than most of their rivals, the Blues then embarked on a three-match tour of the United States where they failed to win a single fixture without the help of a penalty shoot-out.
Nevertheless, they returned to England for the FA Community Shield against Arsenal, a game which they duly lost 1-0. They then fell to Fiorentina days later to the same score, but Chelsea fans were optimistic that the squad would produce the goods when it mattered.
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This would not be the case. In their Premier League season opener last weekend against Swansea City, Chelsea failed to take hold of the game and were frankly fortunate to escape with a point after Thibaut Courtois’ dismissal.
Last Saturday’s game was also the scene of the Eva Carneiro incident. With time running out, Eden Hazard went down prompting club doctor Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn to run on and attend to him. Mourinho lost it, stating that Hazard was evidently not injured and thus he was needlessly left with only nine men on the pitch.
RELATED: Eva Carneiro Banned From Chelsea FC Bench, Adds To Bizarre Season Start
Both medical staff have been demoted and will not be on the bench this Sunday, but the players will look to lift the focus off the backroom staff with a win.
Manchester City, meanwhile, looked silky smooth in their opening fixture against West Brom. Manuel Pellegrini’s men put in a dominant performance at The Hawthorns, and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. With Sergio Aguero on the bench (Copa America fatigue), Yaya Toure, David Silva and Vincent Kompany scored a goal each.
This will be an intriguing clash that pits a team out of form and in mild turmoil against a team in great shape and so far putting off inevitable turmoil. It will also be a pivotal match for the Blues, although it may seem odd to say that so soon, that could leave the club five points off the lead just two games into the season.
On the other hand, managing to topple City in their backyard may just give the team the kick it needs to click into gear.
Injury News
Jose Mourinho mentioned in his press conference that Oscar is a doubt due to a knock that he picked up in training. Thibaut Courtois is suspended following his red card last weekend, but everyone else should be available.
According to Pellegrini, only Fernando and new signing Fabian Delph will be missing for City. Doubts lingered over Toure and Gael Clichy, but both are available.
Predicted Chelsea FC Line-Up
Courtois;
Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta;
Matic, Mikel;
Willian, Ramires, Hazard;
Costa
Predicted Result
Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea FC (sorry, just can’t see it happening)
Last season’s results: 21/09/14 – 1-1, 31/01/15 – 1-1
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