pre-match: chesea vs manchester city

It will be the battle of the “Blues” this Monday as our Blue Army takes on Europa League side Manchester City. Just two games ago, many bookmakers and pundits were predicting that Andre Villas-Boas will be sacked. The future looked bleak but I knew if we got the games against Newcastle and Valencia right, hope would return. The win against Newcastle was a huge morale booster ahead of our champions league show-down against Valencia. We have now won our last three games with 3-0 which is fantastic. Currently, Man City top the premier league table, a win against them will leave us seven points behind them. I believe a loss will put the premier league title beyond our reach, though AVB believes it will only make it difficult.
We have won five of six home games against City at the Bridge; let’s hope this stat improves on Monday night.
City’s attack has been impressive this season, having scored 48 goals in 14 league games. Our defense has been shaky this season but I believe AVB must have found a solution because we haven’t conceded in our last three games. Manchester City will be without a certain Argentine who has been our nemesis in the previous meetings but they have quality replacements that only require a moment of brilliance to breakdown any defense. Our defense will have to play their best on the day.
Unfortunately, David Luiz will be missing against Man City due to suspension (5 yellow cards), I expect Ivanovic to move to centre-back and fit-again Bosingwa to play his right back role. I expect Didier to start ahead of Torres, Drogba is gradually gaining his best form. I hope Drogba’s power will see us through against City.
City is most likely going to win the midfield battle because of quality players like Yaya Toure and Silva. We can give City majority of the possession and hit them with counter attacks. With the speed of Sturridge and the creativity of Juan Mata, I believe we can seize the day.
My Chelsea Team: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Oriol, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Drogba and Sturridge
Chelsea Player to Watch: Juan Mata; the Spaniard is the player Chelsea needed terribly last season. Juan Mata’s creativity and pace has brought a new dimension to Chelsea’s game. He has scored 3 goals this season with 7 assists. He is one assist behind another diminutive Spaniard – Silva who he will be facing in Monday’s game.
Probable Man City Team: Hart, Clichy, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Barry, Yaya Toure, Silva, Milner, Aguero, Balotelli
Manchester City Player to Watch: Mario Balotelli; when he is not busy fighting bibs, Mario can be a handful for defenders to handle. Attitude aside, I believe he is a very good striker who is not afraid to take on any defender one-one. I hope we frustrate him on Monday; hopefully he might react stupidly out of anger and get himself sent off.
Predictions: Owning to our present form, I believe we can win this game if all our players are on top form. Given the quality Mancini has at his disposal, I believe the most likely outcome will be a draw.
KTBFFH