Chelsea’s extensive squad made them difficult to predict last season, and not much has changed since. Despite numerous transfers, their Cobham facilities are still packed, and their defense remains a weak spot.
They let in 63 goals last season— a record low for the club in the Premier League — with current centre-backs Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo not quite solidifying the backline.
On a positive note, the offense looks promising. Cole Palmer was a key player last year, and Christopher Nkunku’s return from injury could significantly boost their performance. Despite facing criticism, Nicolas Jackson continues to score.
Where Can I watch the game on tv?
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.30PM at Stamford Bridge Stadium in Chelsea. There is live streaming on Sky Sports Football channel from the kick off time. You can also use Bet365 and their in play service.
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They are set to challenge a Manchester City team that has been both scoring and conceding frequently in pre-season.
Last season, it appeared Chelsea was making significant progress under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership, with Cole Palmer scoring freely and a previously disjointed squad beginning to gel.
Chelsea then decided to make drastic changes by dismissing Pochettino and bringing in Enzo Maresca from Leicester City.
Maresca’s did well to promote Leicester back to the Premier League and is highly respected, but it’s perplexing that Chelsea would choose to start over.
Their pre-season has been less than stellar, and although pre-season performance isn’t always indicative of regular season success, it does seem to suggest that Chelsea might not be as prepared as they’d hoped for the upcoming season.
Despite the setbacks, the team still possesses considerable talent, and Cole Palmer is likely to have another standout season.
Yet, I am concerned that the momentum they had at the end of last season has dissipated, potentially delaying their ability to perform cohesively once more.
Pep Guardiola’s squad seems not fully prepared, mirroring their typically slow starts to the season.
This week has been eventful for City, with some players just back from Euro 2024, Julian Alvarez transferring to Atletico Madrid, and Oscar Bobb sustaining a leg injury.
Also something to consider is that the future of Manchester City remains uncertain as they face a hearing next month for allegedly breaching Premier League rules 115 times.
This issue is likely to generate significant media attention. However, one thing is clear: Pep Guardiola will ensure that his team remains focused on their gameplay.
He will be optimistic about their chances, especially considering their strong track record at Stamford Bridge, where they’ve won three of their last five matches.
Their recent victory over Manchester United in the Community Shield is also a positive start to their new campaign.
The acquisition of Savio, a promising young Brazilian forward from Troyes, further bolsters Manchester City’s formidable attacking lineup, positioning them to dominate numerous opponents this season again.
There remains a minor uncertainty concerning their goalkeeping position, given the unresolved future of Ederson.
However, Stefan Ortega proved capable of filling in effectively during the Brazilian’s absences last season, and his transition to becoming their new primary goalkeeper should be relatively smooth.
Last year, this matchup saw eight goals, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this game is similarly high-scoring.
Chelsea v Man City key stats
Last season, Chelsea led the Premier League in yellow cards with a total of 105 and consistently racked up the most cards in their three encounters with Manchester City across all competitions.
Moises Caicedo notably received a yellow card in each of these matches, ending the season as Chelsea’s most-booked player with 11.
On the scoring front, Cole Palmer was the league’s top scorer in home games, netting 16 goals.
Erling Haaland also made a strong start, scoring braces in both of his Premier League appearances on Matchday 1 and notching a hat-trick in a pre-season match against Chelsea.
Trambak is a Football Writer with extensive experience of more than 5 years. He covers football previews for us. He also works as an Italian football news writer for Get Football Group and is a postgraduate literature student.