“Please am begging” “Don’t use this formation against City” – Cesc Fabregas warns Chelsea against using this formation against Manchester City
Chelsea’s opponent this weekend is Manchester City, and Cesc Fabregas has cautioned them that if they choose to go to the Etihad with a defensive tactical plan, they could get “eaten alive.”
After 24 Premier League games, the Blues sit 20 points behind champions Liverpool and 18 points behind Man City. This season, they have struggled with consistency.
Chelsea, nevertheless, enters the match on the strength of back-to-back 3-1 wins in the FA Cup and Premier League over Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, respectively. A victory over the defending champions might propel Chelsea up to seventh place in the standings.
Because of the players he has, Cesc Fabregas has cautioned Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino from considering a defensive style of play.
Asked whether Chelsea are likely to go to the Etihad with a defensive plan, former Spain midfielder, Fabregas told the Planet Premier League podcast: “This could be an option. I don’t think they are a team to do that.
“We will see what he comes up with, but definitely if you want to get something out of a game away at Manchester City you need to be brave at the same time.
“I don’t think with the players Chelsea have they can just decide to go deep and play counter-attack because if they do that, maybe they don’t even get the chance to do one.
“I feel that Manchester City eats you alive when you they are in the final third. They have very quick players, resting defence, they keep the ball.”
He continued: “When you have players like Caicedo, like Enzo, like Cole Palmer, they don’t like to be defending the whole game.
“I think they would hate it, they would get frustrated and in the end they would just be giving up.
“They just need to be themselves. Okay, they are not maybe at the level to compete face to face against Manchester City at the moment, but they need to start somewhere.
“I think this is a good chance, especially with the last couple of results they’ve had, to prove their momentum and just have a go at them.”