Tuchel prepares to continue Pep humiliation in Chelsea-City weekend cracker
European champions Chelsea FC take on English Premier League (EPL) title-holders Manchester City FC at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a rematch of last season’s UEFA Champions League final.
When Chelsea triumphed in Porto against Pep Guardiola’s team in May, the result was considered an upset with Manchester City heavily backed to win their first UEFA Champions League trophy.
But four months later, Thomas Tuchel’s West London side find themselves many pundits’ favourites to win the domestic title after a hugely impressive start to the campaign.
Chelsea have won four of their opening five matches with a draw coming after playing against Liverpool at Anfield which earned them as many plaudits as their victories.
They also have a 100 per cent record against Manchester City since Tuchel took charge at Stamford Bridge in late January, winning the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League final.
Manchester City have this season lost at Tottenham Hotspur, with a draw at home to Southampton last week leaving them three points off the leading trio of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Romelu Lukaku’s arrival from Inter Milan for 97 million pounds (132 million dollars) has given Chelsea an extra dimension they lacked last term.
Manchester City failed in their bid to sign Spurs’ Harry Kane and Guardiola’s team have yet to truly display the kind of fluent, attacking football they are known for under the Spaniard’s charge.
Kane has struggled for form at Tottenham but Sunday would be the perfect occasion to get back to his best with a trip to the Emirates for the North London derby with Arsenal.
After leading the table, following their opening three league games under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Spurs have suffered back-to-back 3-0 losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
In contrast, Arsenal lost their first three games but go into the derby after morale-boosting wins against Norwich City and Burnley.
Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool FC face a tricky trip to Brentford FC in Saturday’s late game at 16:30 GMT, while Manchester United host Aston Villa in an early kick-off at 11:30 GMT.
Reuters/NAN
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