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Chelsea: Three things to look for in Champions League dress rehearsal

By Travis Tyler

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodrigo (L) vies with Chelsea's US midfielder Christian Pulisic (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on January 3, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodrigo (L) vies with Chelsea's US midfielder Christian Pulisic (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on January 3, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 17: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions during the Semi Final of the Emirates FA Cup match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Wembley Stadium on April 17, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian Walton – Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 17: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions during the Semi Final of the Emirates FA Cup match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Wembley Stadium on April 17, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian Walton – Pool/Getty Images) /

Chelsea ultimately got past Real Madrid quite comfortably despite finishing woes. Over two legs, the Blues were the better team and it is why they are making the final why Madristas scape goat Eden Hazard for not being a jerk and Toni Kroos desperately tries to cover his comments on Chelsea up through veiled insults passed off nonchalantly. Manchester City, meanwhile, had a similar story against Thomas Tuchel’s former club Paris Saint-Germain. After locking in the final against one another, the two sides now get an immediate dress rehearsal in the Premier League. What should fans look for in this one?

1. Keeping the powder dry?

Tuchel’s Chelsea has already faced Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and won this season. Even aside from that, Tuchel and Guardiola will know each other’s ideas well after so many clashes between the two. What either manager does in this match won’t necessarily be a surprise to the other.

That being said, those other matches didn’t come three weeks before a Champions League final between the two. After some fatiguing (mentally as well as physically) matches midweek, both sides will be running on fumes as they face off. Both managers will obviously want to win and get a psychological advantage going forward, but neither will want to show all the cards in their hand before the big day.

This match could easily turn into a turgid, 0-0, tactical affair simply because neither manager wants to give too much away. The side that pulls a fast one on the other will get the win, but is that immediate win worth losing the element of surprise later? If it was any other match later, the answer would probably be yes. But with it being the Champions League, expect both managers to play their cards close to their chest.

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