Sunday, 16 August 2015

MATCH DAY PEOPLE: MAN CITY VS CHELSEA, ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Coming off the backdrop of tough week, Chelsea will take to the Etihad on Sunday to face Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City.

City got off to a brilliant start last weekend, laying waste to West Brom. The Blues, on the other hand, could only manage a draw against Swansea and had to finish the game with 10 men after Thibaut Courtois was sent off.

Many questions lead up to what should be a very difficult match, but here are four things to look out for.

4. To Treat or Not to Treat

Chelsea v Swansea City - Premier League
​Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has been banned from the bench for this game and who knows for how many more. Mourinho has stuck by his decision to keep Carneiro and physiotherapist Jon Fearn out of the match.

As for the persons replacing them, it shouldn't matter much because we may not know their names anyway, but should a Chelsea player go down injured, all eyes will be on Mourinho.

3. Touresurgence?

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City - Premier League
​Last season, the Ivorian was nothing like the Yaya Toure we knew. He was listless and inconsistent, leading many to believe that he no longer wanted to be at the Etihad club.

But if last weekend was anything to go by, Toure seems back to his old self. The midfielder started his campaign with a bang, putting a goal past West Brom en route to a 3-0 victory. If he continues where he left off, he could cause Chelsea all sorts of problems.

2. Can Begovic Measure Up?

Chelsea v Fiorentina - Pre Season Friendly
​The new Chelsea No.1 will make his first start for the club. Thibaut Courtois, who earned himself a straight red after appearing to foul Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis last Saturday, will be serving out his single suspension, thrusting Begovic into the biggest game of the season thus far.

Can the former Stoke man perform well enough to give Chelsea that needed presence in goal? 

1. Diego Costa Back Among the Goals?

Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League
​Costa hasn't scored since putting a penalty past Sunderland on the last day of last season. The forward went through the entire pre-season without a goal, and surprisingly failed to score against Swansea last weekend.

His hamstring issues are no secret and could be the reason for his mini-drought, but he put in a full 90 minutes against the Swans, and it will be interesting to see how he can impact the game on Sunday.




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