Man City and Chelsea will contest the first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday with the game set to prove crucial to both clubs’ seasons.
The Manchester club suffered a big blow midweek as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid on penalties having failed to take their chances in normal time. This prevented Pep Guardiola’s side from doing back-to-back trebles but the season can still be a big success for City.
Man City are still in contention to win the Premier League and FA Cup, and Guardiola’s men should be confident of doing the double as they are in prime position to win the league and they are by far the best team left in the cup.
However, will the defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday have an impact on City for today’s clash with Chelsea?
Guardiola has made four changes from the Madrid defeat with Ortega Moreno, Stones, Ake and Julian Alvarez coming into the City team in place of Ederson, Dias, Gvardiol and Erling Haaland.
The Norway star was a doubt coming into Saturday’s match having come off midweek and the striker has not even been included in the defending champions’ squad.
Confirmed Man City starting team
Your City side! ?
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker (C), Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Kovacic, Doku, Gomez, Gvardiol, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/dT2NJRjyld
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 20, 2024
As for Chelsea, this season has been an underwhelming one for the Blues but it could be saved by winning the FA Cup, having also reached the Carabao Cup final back in February.
Mauricio Pochettino has been under pressure for weeks but a win over Man City at Wembley would go a long way in helping the Argentine keep his job.
The West London club were also in action during the week, hammering Everton 6-0 on Monday. Chelsea will take confidence from those three points but a big talking point coming out of Stamford Bridge that night was the scuffle over a penalty.
Pochettino has made just one change from that Everton game with Enzo Fernandez returning to replace Mykhailo Mudryk.
Confirmed Chelsea starting team
Introducing our semi-final XI…
?? Enzo returns in the middle.
©? Gallagher captains the Blues.
?? Madueke keeps his place.@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/j8e0nFXH46— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2024
