Chelsea fans are understandably worried ahead of the weekend clash against league leaders Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, has showcased offensive prowess with three or more goals in nine matches this season, just one less than Chelsea’s total games with a solitary goal. Sitting atop the league, Manchester City arrives in exceptional form, scoring 15 goals in their last four games and securing Champions League knockout stage qualification.
Despite Chelsea’s confidence from a convincing 4-1 win against Tottenham, there’s awareness that replicating such a performance against Manchester City might not yield the same positive outcome. An encouraging factor is that Erling Haaland, in prolific form, has never scored against Chelsea. However, his recent ankle twist raises concerns about his fitness for the upcoming clash.
While Manchester City managed a 6-1 victory without Haaland’s contribution, uncertainty looms over his availability. Guardiola, cautious about the ankle twist, mentioned, “Twist in the ankle, we didn’t want to take risks with him, he didn’t feel comfortable.” The timeline for Haaland’s return remains uncertain, introducing unpredictability for Chelsea in their preparations for this crucial match.
