Chelsea and Manchester City: Is 2014 the Year the Treble can Finally be Repeated? By Steve Clift | Feb 13, 2014 1,383 Reads The next fourteen days will be decisive in determining the chances of an English club repeating the remarkable achievements of Manchester United in 1999. The return of the Champions League has been overshadowed by the FA Cup Fifth Round draw, where both Arsenal and Manchester City must welcome two of their strongest rivals this weekend. After the enthralling encounter between Manuel Pellegrini’s men and Chelsea last week, it seems avaricious that we are treated to such a spectacle again so soon. Chelsea’s failure to capitalise on Manchester City’s slip up at Carrow Road on Tuesday evening, against West Bromwich Albion, denied them breathing space at the top of the Premier League. The repeated exchanges of the leading baton in the race for the domestic title looks set to continue throughout the campaign. Regardless of how impressive Jose Mourinho’s tactics were at the Etihad Stadium last Monday, their failure to score a crucial second, or deny the Baggies an equaliser, only intensified the questions raised about their title credentials. The recent meeting of Manchester City and Chelsea will bare no significance to Saturday evening’s cup tie. While both clubs were afforded ample time to prepare for their league fixture, this weekend comes straight off the back of two lacklustre performances, and a rather late postponement in City’s case. The training methods adopted in our now science- crazed football environment will mean Thursday’s usual warm-down for Yaya Toure and company, will now more likely represent a compromise between recovery and preparation. The attempts to master both disciplines could result in neither being accomplished. The race for the Premier League title will take an intriguing twist now that continental football has finally returned. Chelsea may feel relatively composed after being paired with Turkey’s second placed team, Galatasaray, but their opponents have enjoyed a fine return to action since a four-week winter break. Three successive clean sheets have prospered seven points, including victories by three, and six goal margins. Throw in a Wesley Snejder hat- trick and it signals trouble for the Blues. Fortunately, Roberto Mancini’s side must tackle fierce rivals Besiktas on the weekend prior to the London club’s visit. Whether a home tie with Everton will offer any respite for Chelsea though, remains to be seen. Manchester City failed to avoid one of the strongest seeded teams after their miscalculation in Munich last December. Although Bayern Munich resume Champions League football as the overriding favourites, Pep Guardiola’s former club will provide a stern test. Forced to play their first leg at home, it will be fascinating to see whether Pellegrini will opt to protect the away goal, or look to outscore Barcelona. The Spanish side’s form has been questionable this calendar year, with just three wins in six games. But although they suffered defeat to Valencia, they did bounce back emphatically with a 4-1 win last weekend - Lionel Messi scoring twice. It has been disturbing times for English clubs in the Champions League in recent seasons, and without Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s chances are greatly reduced. The tie will not be decided after next week’s first leg, but a failure to gain any slender advantage could be troublesome. While Chelsea will have fond memories of defeating Napoli at Stamford Bridge at this stage two years ago, their apprehension given their failure to reach the knockout stages last season could show. It is fair to suggest Barcelona are weaker now than six months ago (as three teams battle for supremacy in La Liga) but by the same token, Galatasaray are much improved. I dare not write off either English clubs’ chances of success, but the first leg performances will be of paramount importance. Recent mind games instigated by Jose Mourinho had been working perfectly prior to Victor Anichebe’s late goal. The momentum in the Premier League title race had shifted and you could sense that Chelsea were relishing the challenge. However, despite deploying both Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres on Tuesday night, once again their profligacy in attack ultimately proved their downfall. The January signing of Nemanja Matic appeared a masterstroke in their 1-0 win away to Manchester City, but their decision not to proceed with preliminary talks with Jackson Martinez and Radamel Falcao could become their undoing. Chelsea were not the only ones to miss the opportunity to reinforce their treble ambitions. Martinez’s Porto team-mates, Fernando and Mangala were both close to joining Manchester City on deadline day, until the pursuers decided to delay until the summer. With their Brazilian defensive midfielder absent, and Martin Demichelis looking suspect, the difference between nearly men and European Champions couldn’t be finer. There was a time when speculating in the transfer market was deemed necessary in order to win major trophies, but the backdrop of Financial Fair Play has board members scurrying for cover. It makes repeating the treble of 1999 seem even further away. MORE: Chelsea Team News Manchester City Team News Analysing the run-ins of both title challengers does give the indication that Chelsea ought to be favourites. Hosting Tottenham and Arsenal and visiting Anfield doesn’t offer too many hazards for the team inspired by their Belgian playmaker. When compared to Manchester City’s trips to three difficult Premier League battlegrounds - Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United - you would make John Terry a slight favourite to lift the league trophy come May 11. But if it does go to the final day of the season, a home tie versus a club securely placed in mid-table would be preferable to facing a relegation threatened Cardiff City in the fervent Welsh capital. The permutations looking ahead could cause you to reach for the ibuprofen, but thankfully as far as treble winning chances go, we should know which horse to back (whatever their size) after ninety minutes on Saturday. The energy and intensity levels will not match those of last Monday, but the determination and willpower will be significantly greater. This rivalry has now replaced those of years gone by, and if Mourinho is floored by last season’s FA Cup runners-up, be sure he will come back with a vengeance. The safest bet is whoever is not triumphant in the FA Cup, will be guns blazing for the Premier League. An interference or lack of, in the Champions League, could prove a blessing too. Balancing multiple competitions and investing excessively may forever be left in the 1990’s.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 16:26:57 +0000
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