After Arsenal secured a surprise 2-0 victory away to Manchester City, Chelsea maintained their five point gap at the top of the Premier League table. Resulting in the pairs next game were the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge being called the ‘title decider’. A win for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge would see them go clear of the pack with an eight point margin. I am going to be going through some of the main talking points about this game.
Mourinho’s love affair with big games
Throughout his career as a manager, Jose Mourinho has always been confident in the ability of whatever side he picks. Regardless of the names on the team sheet, he is also confident in himself. Confident that he can choose a tactic to stop the big teams from playing, result in a Mourinho victory. Last season Chelsea did the double over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. As well taking four out of six points against Manchester United. This season he has already conjured up ways up beating Arsenal and Liverpool and did not lose away to Manchester City or Manchester United either.
Losing big games is just something you do not resemble with Jose Mourinho teams. Of course sometimes it does happen, you only have to look back recently to the 5-3 defeat away to Tottenham. Granted, tactics may change, their style of change may differ, but if he takes all three points he will be pleased irrespective of any of that.
Stamford Bridge return for Lampard
The game will also relive one of the most dramatic scenes of the season so far. All the way back in September, Frank Lampard came off the bench to equalise for City against Chelsea. Scoring his first goal for Manchester City, ironically against his old club.
Lampard will be in contention to play for City, whether it be from the start or off the bench. I’m sure it will be an emotional day for both Frank and the Chelsea supporters. I look forward to hearing his name being sung louder than anyone else’s. I believe regardless of the outcome of the game he will get one of the best receptions and send off Stamford Bridge has ever seen.
Team News
With games against Liverpool and Bradford respectively I believe Petr Cech may continue in goal for one of those games and we will see Thibaut Courtios return and be ready for the game at home to Manchester City. Cesar Azpilcueta is set to return back to training this week and is likely to feature against City.
Manchester City will be without key man Yaya Toure and new signing Wilfried Bony. Yaya Toure will be a massive miss for the Premier League champions and Wilfried Bony will have to wait to feature for the first time for Manchester City as the pair are both away participating in the African Cup of Nations.
Following Fixtures
With such a weight of importance resting on the meeting at Stamford Bridge, many have casted an eye on what the teams will have to face after the game at Stamford Bridge. Both teams would not be to unhappy about their run of Premier League games, however both prepare for challenging Champions League ties. Chelsea will travel to struggling Aston Villa before hosting Everton, travelling to France to play Paris St. German in the Champions League and then Burnley at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Manchester City will travel to also struggling Hull, followed up by another tricky away game at Stoke. They go on to host Newcastle United and then face the daunting task of Welcoming Barcelona to the Etihad for the second consecutive year. As previously mentioned, with regards to the Premier League games, both teams have a great chance to record more points on the board but will have to juggle the other competitions too.
To conclude, I believe Chelsea stand a great chance in getting a result from this game. A win would stand us in a really strong position and would defiantly knock the confidence out of Manchester City. Without Yaya Toure in the team, they do struggle. Despite the fact he has not hit his best form over the course of this season, Chelsea will have to take advantage of this. It’s set to be an exciting game with plenty to talk about that’s for sure.
