Student vs Teacher: 3 strong reasons why Enzo Maresca will defeat Pep Guardiola’s men on Sunday (Especially NO. 3)
Pep Guardiola’s pupil Enzo Maresca will be hoping to move past a dismal preseason campaign when the Blues play champion Manchester City on Sunday.
We examine the possible outcomes of the major match and three reasons why the home team could upset the odds before kickoff.
Chelsea Is Hopeful After Recent Results
Chelsea should be confident going into this match because they were just one of four teams to avoid losing to Manchester City previous season, both at home and away.
Although Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling have become adept at scoring goals against City, the champs’ defense is by no means unbreakable. This ought to be a public competition.
Rodri’s Health: A Serious Issue for the City
Before leaving for EURO 2024 and playing seven more games for Spain to win the championship, Rodri played fifty appearances for Man City in the previous season.
He is without a doubt the most crucial player for City, therefore losing him would be devastating.
Guardiola’s team has suffered without its star player, who missed the entire preseason and will only have had three days of full training before this match. As a result, it is unlikely that he will be playing at his best.
The Benefit of Being Underdog
There is less pressure on Chelsea. Especially with nine new players in the lineup, nobody anticipates them to win. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they lost, and it might even work to their advantage to be the underdogs.
Maresca’s team is effectively getting a free hit, and City is under pressure to mount a competitive title defense.
Will Chelsea seize this opportunity to upset the odds on opening day? Time will tell.