Manchester City will host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with both clubs facing significant challenges as they aim to secure essential Premier League points. Manchester City trail league leaders Liverpool by 12 points, and Chelsea have recently snapped a five-game winless streak. Pep Guardiola has described the upcoming matches as "finals" for his team, highlighting their critical importance as City seeks to climb from their current fifth position in the league standings.
The match marks the 177th meeting between these two football powerhouses, a rivalry that dates back to 1907. Manchester City have enjoyed a strong record against Chelsea in recent years, remaining unbeaten in their last ten encounters, winning eight of them. The stakes are particularly high for Guardiola's side, who have been grappling with form issues, having registered only one win in nine matches across all competitions at one point. Meanwhile, Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, brings a unique dynamic to this clash, given his history with Manchester City as both a coach and assistant to Guardiola.
Manchester City's January transfer window activity has been extensive, with the acquisition of Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Omar Marmoush for over $150 million. This spending spree aims to address the team's recent slump and boost their performance on the field. However, injuries continue to pose challenges for both teams. Manchester City will be without Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku, while Chelsea's Romeo Lavia remains sidelined due to an injury expected to keep him out for several more weeks. Nevertheless, Chelsea expects Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez to return for the match after missing their 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“The next two games are really really important, finals with us,” – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola emphasized the significance of the upcoming matches as Manchester City aims to close the gap with Chelsea and the league leaders. Despite recent struggles, Guardiola remains optimistic about his team's potential to overcome challenges and return to their winning ways.
“Our people will support us. We are very close in the table [to Chelsea] even with the big big problems we had in the recent past.” – Pep Guardiola
Guardiola's confidence is rooted in his belief that his players have the determination and quality to rise to the occasion, especially with the backing of their supporters at the Etihad Stadium. The manager also highlighted Vitor Reis's potential impact on the team.
“Vitor is young, he has a huge personality, needs time. If he’s here with us, of course, he can start,” – Pep Guardiola
In contrast, Enzo Maresca's perspective is shaped by his gratitude towards Manchester City for providing him with a second chance after his dismissal from Parma. He acknowledges City's current challenges but remains unwavering in his respect for his former club.
“My relationship with Pep and the club is fantastic. I will always be thankful to City for the trust they showed in me because they called me back after an Italian club sacked me after two or three months,” – Enzo Maresca
Maresca also recognizes Manchester City's resilience and expects them to return to their trophy-winning form soon.
“It is normal in football to live moments like they are in. For sure, they will be back to winning trophies soon,” – Enzo Maresca
Chelsea's recent win against Wolverhampton Wanderers has provided a much-needed boost for Maresca's side as they aim to build momentum moving forward. Despite this victory, Maresca remains cautious about facing City.
“With this club and these players, when they are in a difficult moment, they want to show how good they are. I don’t think there is ever a good moment to play City,” – Enzo Maresca
Looking ahead, both teams face additional challenges beyond the Premier League. Manchester City must secure a must-win victory against Club Brugge in Belgium to avoid elimination from the Champions League at the first hurdle. This added pressure underscores the importance of a strong performance against Chelsea.
Chelsea's squad management also presents its own set of challenges as Maresca navigates player availability and tactical decisions. With the absence of Romeo Lavia and potential returns of Colwill and Fernandez, Maresca must make strategic choices to maximize his team's strengths.
“No, not for the title. If you look over December and January, we are having a tough moment.” – Enzo Maresca
“No, no. I’m happy with the ones we have in this moment,” – Enzo Maresca
Maresca further commented on his squad's current situation, expressing satisfaction with his players despite recent challenges.
“We’ve said many times on the right side, it’s Pedro [Neto] and Noni [Madueke] and left side is Jadon [Sancho]. Misha [Mudryk] was with us and is now not with us. Tyrique [George] is a young profile that can help us so at this moment we are OK.” – Enzo Maresca
His remarks reflect an understanding of his team's dynamics and a strategic approach to managing resources effectively.
