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Pep Guardiola’s men look to reach consecutive finals following their Champions League exit
The dream of winning back-to-back trebles is over for Manchester City after they were beaten in a Champions League penalty shootout against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Now, Pep Guardiola’s team must focus their efforts on the remaining domestic fixtures as they hunt for silverware this season.
They currently sit top of the Premier League, following both Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points last time out, and are favourites to regain their title while today’s outing sees them target a spot in the FA Cup final. This is the seventh time in eight seasons that City have featured at the semi-final stage though they have only progressed twice from their last six attempts.
Standing in their way this afternoon is Mauricio Pochettino’s surging Chelsea. The Blues have reached three of the last four FA Cup finals (though won none of them) and hammered Everton 6-0 on Monday evening with former City player Cole Palmer scoring four goals. The forward will be crucial to Chelsea’s attempt at defeating their rivals today having already enjoyed success against his old club earlier in the season.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One, with coverage on the channel from 4.45pm. A live stream will be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
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Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:50
Jack Grealish does seem the sort to suffer from a crisis of confidence. The Brummie’s bubby persona can endear him, as well as making him the antidote to the some of the blander figures around. He has a relish for life, his enjoyment of playing football apparently only topped by the fun he evidently had celebrating Manchester City’s treble.
But if Grealish’s frankness can form part of his appeal, and made it unsurprising that he readily admitted he had found this season tough, the revelation he had lost belief in himself felt more of a shock. If it has been reflected in some subdued displays, they illustrated the England international’s state of mind.
“I just think sometimes if you’re not playing and probably not up to it in training, in your own head you just don’t feel confident,” he said.
A stop-start season saw him lose form, except for a spell in November and December and a recent resurgence. “It’s been difficult,” he added.
The £100m winger says he is ‘confident’ again and has the backing of his manager as he looks to play a key role in the run-in
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:40
It’s already been a historic day for Chelsea Football Club. A stunning victory for Emma Hayes’s side, who became the first team in five years to beat Barcelona away from home, means they will take a 1-0 lead back to Stamford Bridge in next week’s Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg.
Over to Mauricio Pochettino and his players now to see if they can also secure a big semi-final win for the Blues.
Barcelona 0-1 Chelsea: Erin Cuthbert’s goal gives the English side the advantage in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals as they stunned the holders away from home
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:31
Raheem Sterling is on the Chelsea bench as Enzo Fernandez returns from the 6-0 win over Everton. Cole Palmer starts, of course, with Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson completing the front three.
Axel Disasi returns to the Chelsea bench but Trevoh Chalobah is preferred.
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:22
There is no Erling Haaland in the Man City squad as Pep Guardiola makes four changes from his team that played Real Madrid, with Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Julian Alvarez come in. Kevin De Bruyne makes it.
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:20
Man City XI: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Jackson
Introducing our semi-final XI…
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2024
🇦🇷 Enzo returns in the middle.
©️ Gallagher captains the Blues.
⚡️ Madueke keeps his place.@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/j8e0nFXH46
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:15
Erling Haaland is a doubt after the striker was unable to continue against Real Madrid, but Kevin De Bruyne is fit after also asking to come off before extra time. Manchester City are not thought to have any major new injury concerns, though workload management will be key after the Real Madrid second leg stretched beyond extra time. Kyle Walker was able to complete the entire game after his hamstring issue, but may be given a chance to recover here.
For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi are available after missing the 6-0 win over Everton, while Christopher Nkunku is back in “partial training”. Chelsea remain without Levi Colwill, Reece James and Wesley Fofana.
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 16:05
The players are arriving at Wembley as Manchester City face Chelsea for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 15:57
Pep Guardiola has called on his Manchester City side to respond to midweek disappointment as they look to book their place in the FA Cup final.
“We don’t have an option, we don’t want to feel sorry for ourselves,” he said. “We performed at our best [against Real Madrid] but were not able to win.
“We don’t have time to reflect, we’ll do that in the summertime. In football you compete to win, but sometimes you lose games, and that’s what happened.”
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 15:51
It was an argument straight from the playground. Even as Chelsea cruised to their best win of the season, Mauricio Pochettino’s side somehow found a way to remind everyone of how far there is to go before this young team can be taken seriously. “If they behave like kids, it’s impossible,” sighed Pochettino, unable to hide his frustration.
Immature? A team of individuals? An absence of leadership on the pitch? Chelsea have been accused of all of the above and more this season – and so a very public falling out over a second-half penalty at Stamford Bridge showed exactly what Pochettino is up against in his own dressing room. Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s star player and a contender now for footballer of the year, is the club’s designated penalty taker, yet the actions of Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson in attempting to claim the penalty for themselves not only overshadowed a brilliant 6-0 win over Everton but threatened to undermine their manager’s authority.
Mauricio Pochettino has called for his young squad to be shown patience throughout the season, but the Chelsea manager now needs discipline after the on-field spat overshadowed his side’s 6-0 win over Everton
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