Manchester City welcome the Jaguar cars global ambassador and his table topping Little Horse squad for an FA Cup Fifth Round humdinger…
Vital Quotes:
Manuel Pellegrini:
“I think it will be a very similar game to the league game as we have a style of play that we don’t change no matter who we are against. We know the important players that Chelsea have and the way they play. From the other game we know also that we have to try not to be very open on the counter attack….It’s better to have had more rest because we have two important games on Saturday and Tuesday but as we postponed the game against Sunderland we will have a lot of games in midweek at the end of the season…we already postponed the Manchester United game because we are in the Capital One Cup final. If we continue in the FA Cup, we must postpone one more game. We will have to postpone the game with Aston Villa.”
José Mourinho:
“It is not an easy situation to play consecutive games against the same team. It is very difficult for the match to be the same. The approach is the same as we are going to play against the best team in this country…We analysed the first game and City played a good game. They created chances and our goalkeeper was important…the game was very equal…But…We don’t want a replay. We are not going there to try to get a draw.”
Manchester City Team News:
OUT:
Sergio Agüero
Fernandinho
Matija Nastasić
Player to watch: Samir Nasri
City’s influential 26 year old midfielder will return to action in some capacity for this crucial tie and his savvy and nous of the English game will prove a shot in the arm, giving Chelsea that bit more to think about into the bargain. Nasri had been like a new signing this season until hacked down at Newcastle and having feared his World Cup dream with Les Bleus was over, will be determined to pick up where he left off, terrorising defences in tandem with David Silva. Le Petit Prince de Marseille has scored some crucial goals for City against Chelsea.
Chelsea Team News:
OUT:
Gary Cahill
John Terry
Player to watch: Eden Hazard
23 year old Hazard’s initial appearances in England were distinctly underwhelming but he has steadily grown in stature and influence to a point where he has become one of, if not the most feared players in the London Blues weaponry. He has looked a steal at £32 million from Lille in brilliant performances against City and Newcastle within the last fortnight. Shackle Hazard and you stand a good chance of beating Chelsea.
Match Facts & Stats
THE NUMBERS GAME:
Can Pellegrini shake the Mourinho voodoo curse? The Engineer has won only 1 game in 9 as Malaga and City boss against the Jaguar F-Type coupé quipster.
Chelsea have played 38 competitive fixtures so far this season whilst City have played 39.
City have lost 1 FA Cup fixture on home soil in the last 11 contests (W9, L1, D1).
The last 5 FA Cup finals have featured either one of City or Chelsea.
HEAD TO HEAD:
League: 57 Chelsea Wins, 37 Draws, 44 City Wins
League Cup: 1 Chelsea Win, 1 City Win
FA Cup: 1 Chelsea Win, 3 City Wins
Other Cup: 2 Chelsea Wins, 1 City Win
Total: 61 Chelsea Wins, 37 Draws, 49 City Wins
THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME:
Mo 03Feb 2014 Man City 0 – 1 Chelsea PL
Su 27Oct 2013 Chelsea 2 – 1 Man City PL
Su 14Apr 2013 Chelsea 1 – 2 Man City FACSF
Su 24Feb 2013 Man City 2 – 0 Chelsea PL
Su 25Nov 2012 Chelsea 0 – 0 Man City PL
Su 12Aug 2012 Chelsea 2 – 3 Man City CS
Betting: City 6/5 Draw 13/5 Chelsea 12/5 Racing Post Soccerbase
FORM LAST 6 GAMES ALL COMPETITIONS:
Chelsea: WWDWWD
City: WWWWLD
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS AND FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE IN THE VMC FORUM
TV COVERAGE: ITV
LiveOnSat.com
mcfc official: BARCELONA MEDIA DAY | City Today | 13th February
Ref Watch:
Phil Dowd from Staffordshire (4th Official: Michael Jones)
-Last Season: Tu 25Sep 2012 Man City 2 – 4 Aston Villa LC, Sa 05Jan 2013 Man City 3 – 0 Watford FAC, Tu 29Jan 2013 QPR 0 – 0 Man City PL, Tu 07May 2013 Man City 1 – 0 West Brom PL This Season: Sa 31Aug 2013 Man City 2 – 0 Hull PL, Sa 02Nov 2013 Man City 7 – 0 Norwich PL, We 01Jan 2014 Swansea 2 – 3 Man City PL-2012/13: 39 Games, 105 Yellows, 1 Red -2013/14: 23 Games, 98 Yellows, 2 Reds.
Match Prediction:
Johnny On The Spot: I think there is an element of too close to call about this cup tie regardless of the widely reported 0-1 thrashing Manchester City suffered at the same hands 12 days ago. City come into the game after a pause of more than 3 or 4 days in competitive fixtures for the first time since last November when defeat at Sunderland was followed 12 days later by the hammering of Tottenham. We are about to see how an unexpected 6 day break due to the storm lashed postponement of the Sunderland League Cup Final dress rehearsal has impacted upon Manuel Pellegrini’s stretched squad. At the very least, no further injuries have been shipped ahead of this important fixture and the imminent Big One against Barcelona in 4 days time. By way of contrast, Chelsea enjoyed a couple of sizeable injury niggle soothing breaks in January due to elimination from the Capital One competition but endured a late roughing up at the hands of West Bromwich Albion in midweek. Now they return to the scene of a much fanfared and celebrated league win safe in the knowledge that they do not have the distraction of a Champions League commitment next week. Despite the narrow scoreline in the league fixture, Chelsea outsmarted City thoroughly, but for this one I think we will witness a much closer contest as Manchester’s Blues seek to raise their game in search of revenge. City still come into the game missing key players through injury and a handful of players have been carrying knocks but I suggest that this week’s cancellation of a tough encounter with an uncompromising Sunderland could just give City the edge this time around. However, in order to beat the Londoners, The Engineer’s men must get a grip of central midfield first and keep it that way. In any event, the last thing Planet Blue needs is a replay. Nevermind a congested fixture list, José Mourinho’s almost daily City obsessed pontificating has done our heads in this season! City 2 Chelsea 1
Next Fixtures:
all times East Manchester GMT
Tu 18Feb 19h45 FC Barcelona, CLR16
Sa 22Feb 15h00 Stoke City, The Etihad, PL
Su 02Mar 14h00 Sunderland, Wembley, LCF
Sa 08Mar 15h00 Aston Villa, The Etihad, PL
We 12Mar 19h45 Barcelona, Nou Camp, CLR16
Sa 15Mar 2014 12h45 Hull, KC Stadium PL
Sa 22Mar 15h00, Fulham, The Etihad, PL
Tu 25Mar 19h45 The Stretfords, the swamp, PL
Sa 29Mar 17h30, Arsenal, The Emirates, PL