Chelsea underdogs but could cause an upset against City
Chelsea will be underdogs when they face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup later this month. But if you fancy a bet, don’t write the Blues off.
The 1xbet free credit offers a range of football odds and it’s clear that City are highly fancied to reach the final. But Pep Guardiola’s side are not unbeatable and with some generous odds on offer, Chelsea might be worth backing.
Chelsea making progress
Despite a disappointing first Premier League campaign under manager Mauricio Pochettino – prompting many Blues fans to call for him to go – Chelsea have been decent in the two cup competitions. They were narrowly beaten in the Carabao Cup final by Liverpool in a match in which they created a number of chances. Had they been able to put them away, the result might well have been very different. So Chelsea have shown they can still compete with top sides.
The encouraging thing for Chelsea is that there have been signs of progress during the season. Sometimes it has seemed a case of two steps forward and one step back, but Pochettino can point to a steady improvement. The defensive lapses which have plagued the team over the past two seasons have still been evident at times, but there have been signs of improvement at the back.
In midfield, while Moises Caicedo has seemed unconvincing, Enzo Fernandez has been in good form and appears to have adapted to English football. Work-rate will also be essential against City and Conor Gallagher has that in spades. He won’t let City’s players rest for a moment and that could be crucial on the big day at Wembley.
Up front, a lack of cutting edge has been a problem. Nicolas Jackson has pace and ability and can unsettle defenders, but his finishing needs to improve. However, there’s no doubt that Chelsea still pose a threat going forward – with two ex-City men potentially key players against their former side.
The ex-City connection
While other big-money signings have failed to impress at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer has been outstanding since his summer move and City’s decision to let him go seems questionable to say the least. Palmer looks like being a star for club and country for years to come and has been a shining light for Chelsea this season. He will relish the chance to take on City.
So too will Raheem Sterling, who has flattered to deceive since swapping Manchester for west London but has plenty of big-game experience – and loves playing at Wembley, close to where he grew up. He could yet make himself a hero among Chelsea fans by helping the club get to the final.
