Chelsea will be going into the FA Cup final knowing that they are underdogs. They have been here before though. In fact, the last time they managed to get the better of Manchester City was in the Champions League back in 2021. Thomas Tuchel was the manager. Kai Havertz scored the winner. BlueCo did not exist. Those were very different times for the Blues.
Coming back to the matter at hand. Chelsea have been in terrible form lately. They might have ended their six-game losing streak in the Premier League but it was not a win. A 1-1 draw against a struggling Liverpool side is what they had to settle for.
The match against Manchester City is going to be a far tougher test. And Pep Guardiola’s side do seem to have Chelsea’s number at the moment.
Some will take hope from the fact that when Calum McFarlane managed against Man City earlier in the season, he was able to get a 1-1 draw against them. Perhaps the interim manager can pull off something similar or better at Wembley. But he will need his best team available for that. Unfortunately, doubts remain over the fitness status of two.
Will Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto play in the FA Cup final vs Man City?
According to a report from The Athletic, it is hoped that both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto might be available for the FA Cup final against Manchester City. But it is far from certain they will feature at Wembley.
Garnacho and Neto have missed Chelsea’s past two games due to knocks picked up in training. Now, both have faced their fair share of criticism. But the fact of the matter is that the Blues have no other options on the wings right now.
Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Jesse Derry are all out nursing different injuries. None of them is expected to return to action this season. A lot has been made of Chelsea’s centre-back issues but they might be just as bad on the wings.
Chelsea have few options on the wings
So, it will be very interesting to see what kind of a lineup McFarlane names if both Neto and Garnacho or one of them misses the final against Manchester City.
In the game against Liverpool, it was Marc Cucurella who had given Arne Slot’s side a lot of problems with his running behind the defence. Could he do something similar against Man City as well? Or is that something that Guardiola’s side would be well-prepared for? It is likely the latter.
Of course, it is not ideal for a team to have to change shape going into a final. But Chelsea might have no other choice looking at the lack of options on the flanks.
