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Manchester City are within touching distance of European glory and can finally get their hands on the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history when they face Chelsea later today. The Cityzens are undoubtedly the favorites heading into the game, but Chelsea won't be pushovers and have already beaten Pep Guardiola's side twice this season, indicating that an intriguing contest could be on the cards.
The Blues have taken European football by storm since Thomas Tuchel's arrival and are looking to win their second UEFA Champions League crown, having reached the final for the first time since 2012. Guardiola, on the other hand, hasn't won club football's biggest competition since his Barcelona days and will look to put past demons to bed by creating history with Manchester City.
The current Manchester City roster is the most expensively assembled squad in football history and is stacked with quality players across the pitch. Chelsea, too, have their fair share of options and are expected to field a full-strength team, as Tuchel confirmed yesterday that the Blues have a clean bill of health.
Manchester City are 90 minutes away from reaching their promised land, but they will have to be wary of Chelsea's threat, having lost to them earlier this month in the Premier League. On that note, here are five things the Cityzens could do to get their hands on the UEFA Champions League trophy later today.
#5 Contain the threat posed by Chelsea's wing-backs
Prior to the game, Pep Guardiola spoke about the damage Chelsea's wing-backs could cause in a conversation with Rio Ferdinand. The likes of Reece James and Ben Chilwell usually have the license to venture forward adventurously, as Chelsea have the insurance policy of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho ahead of their three-back defense.
Sometimes, attack is the best form of defense, so Manchester City will look to start the game on the front foot and dominate proceedings from the get-go. If Chelsea are given time to build from the back, their wing-backs could wreak havoc on the night. Guardiola spoke about the Blues' game plan, indicating that he is aware of the damage the Chelsea stars could cause.
The likes of Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden will have to be on their toes and help out defensively if Manchester City are to contain the threat posed by the Chelsea wing-backs.
#4 Manchester City's midfield should prevent Kante from starting strongly
More often than not, if N'Golo Kante starts the game strongly, it's curtains for the opposition. The Frenchman produced two magnificent displays against Real Madrid in the semi-final, as he ran Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ragged with his relentless pressing and energy.
While Kante is amongst the best in the business when it comes to his defensive work rate, he is also capable of marauding forward with the ball when space opens up in midfield. The likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva will be tasked with keeping him quiet in the center of the park for Manchester City and it remains to be seen how they fare against a player who has produced several iconic displays in big games over the years.
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#3 Mark Mason Mount out of the game
With N'Golo Kante and Jorginho set to be stationed in front of a three-man backline, Mason Mount is set to function as the link between midfield and attack. The Englishman is arguably Chelsea's most important player and has popped up with defining contributions in big moments this season.
If Mount gets time and space on the ball to weave his magic, the likes of Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic could be on the end of some delightful passes behind the Manchester City defense. Much like Kante, the Cityzens will have to be on their toes to keep Mount out of the game and win the midfield battle.
#2 Ederson to act as a sweeper-keeper with a higher starting position
Ederson is arguably the best sweeper-keeper world football has seen since Manuel Neuer. However, against an attacker with devastating pace like Timo Werner who has a knack for running in behind opposition defenders, Ederson would be well advised to adopt a higher starting position inside his box.
Manchester City play a relatively high defensive line, so Werner is likely to have space to run into. If the Brazilian goalkeeper adopts a higher starting position, he'd be in a better position to come forward and deal with the danger, much like he's done so over the course of his Premier League career.
Christian Pulisic might also be given a start against Werner and he is another player who is lightning quick, so the Manchester City goalkeeper will have to be at his brilliant best to emerge victorious on the night.
#1 Start Fernandinho ahead of Rodri
In what could well be his last game as a Manchester City player, Fernandinho should get the nod ahead of Rodri to anchor the midfield. The Brazilian's experience and big-game pedigree could come in handy for the Cityzens, while his robustness and tenacity are also better suited to face N'Golo Kante in the Chelsea midfield.
Fernandinho showed his class against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals as he kept things ticking in central midfield and broke up play expertly. Rodri comes with a better passing range and is technically gifted on the ball, but Fernandinho is the man Guardiola is likely to turn to on the grandest stage later today.
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