Manchester City: Drawing Chelsea in FA Cup 5th Round

Manchester City are away at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the next round of the FA Cup, sometime around 19-22 February.

Misfortune, thy name is Manchester City. OK so I’m fairly sure everyone with the slightest shred of bias, so basically just everyone, finds their team to be on the receiving end of the short end of the stick, if not from matchday officials then fate itself. But seriously, City just seem to have it worse. Kevin De Bruyne returns to top-flight form? Well too bad, he’s out for 10 weeks now. Vincent Kompany’s back, thank Heaven! 9 minutes later – Vincent Kompany’s gone again. Recent examples of an undercurrent of bad fortune that have riddled the club’s campaign this year.

Oh and exhibit A – the FA Cup fifth round draw took place today and Manchester City got…Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge, as you do. Must be boring for Manuel Pellegrini’s men to have to keep playing these bottom of the Premier League teams. First Aston Villa now this. But wait, this isn’t such a stroll in the park.

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We all like to mock Chelsea mercilessly following their, nigh unparalleled fall from grace to the nether-regions of the table and the inevitable sacking of their manager Jose Mourinho to boot. But the truth is that Chelsea are a team, at least somewhat, rejuvenated. Perhaps steadied is a more apt word. Regardless, under Gus Hiddink they have seen an upturn in fortunes that has extended to a run of now 8 competitive matches unbeaten (won 4, drawn 4, lost 0).

Chelsea still languish in a, still quite mockable, 13^th place while Manchester City peer down from second overall. But that doesn’t necessarily tell the full story. Taking home records alone would leave them 10^th overall this year and in their last 8 games they would be good for a respectable 5^th in the table.

Regardless, it’s going to be a tough fixture for Manchester City. Not unwinnable by any means. History certainly seems to be on their side, the Citizens seeing off the Stamford Bridge faithful in both 2013 and 2014’s FA Cup qualifiers. Indeed, City have won 4 out of the last 5 FA Cup games against Chelsea. It could be argued that in those occasions, City simply wanted it more. Likely the roles will be reversed this time with Chelsea out of contention for the Premier League a long time ago. The FA Cup would provide a suitable rebound and reflect well on Hiddink and the players who clearly wouldn’t play for his predecessor.

Either which way, it’ll not be easy for Manchester City. But you know who do have it easy? Manchester United. Ah but of course, every story has a villain and most often than not they dress in red. United had all the fortune we’ve come to expect from them to land one Shrewsbury Town in the next round. You’d be forgiven if you haven’t heard of them before. They sit 20^th in Football League One, two spots off relegation further into the realms of football league abyss. They earned their victory with a 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday, certainly a coup for Shrewsbury, but United likely represent the end of the road. I wouldn’t bet against it.

But, as BBC Sport point out, all eyes will be on Manchester City in the next round and for good reason:

"“But it is the tie between the two most recent Premier League champions – described by Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink as a “huge game” – that will attract most attention.“It’s already a final!” the Dutchman added.It is a third successive away draw against Premier League opposition for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.“"

That last line is particularly depressing. Still, it is what it is. Pellegrini needs to meet the challenge, even without some of his best players available like De Bruyne and Kompany, and get City through to the next round.

Next: Manchester City 4 - Aston Villa 0 Match Report

Bad luck we may have, but good players we have all the more so. Let’s hope that’s enough to get the job done when the two sides finally meet on the weekend of 19-22 February.