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Carabao Cup Final: Manchester City Match Preview

By David Crook

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Supporters make their way from Wembley Park tube station to the stadium prior to the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Supporters make their way from Wembley Park tube station to the stadium prior to the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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In their 125 year history Manchester City have never retained a trophy or title that they have won. They have a history of glorious failure in all of their title defences to date. Can City change history and retain the Carabao Cup at Wembley?

Manchester City stand at the crossroads tomorrow at Wembley Stadium and have the chance to set themselves up in the history books and potentially put themselves firmly on course for more trophies this season. And a defeat could upskittle the whole season so despite all of the talk about this being an unimportant title, it is quite the opposite. Everything may rest upon it.

There has been much talk about Sarri ball and the way in which Chelsea have been underperforming in recent games but that is not something I recognise. I thought that even during our recent 6:0 win Chelsea were more threatening than many teams we have faced at home. The ability of players like Luiz to split our defensive lines can not be overstated.

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The result at the Etihad probably places City’s chances of retaining the Cup at great danger. Chelsea are like a wounded animal and will be playing with pride. The 6:0 result will only feature if City somehow race into a similar lead. Its is only then that we will see the Chelsea star players disappear, until then they have it all to play for.

I consider Sarri will play every single one of his best players believing avoiding defeat may be the springboard to the Chelsea season.

Guardiola will have a number of selection headaches for this match. Does he trust the second string who have got to the final or should he put his best available team out to cement a chance of a trophy? Guardiola trusts his players and may well play Muric rather than Ederson in goal believing he has earnt his spot in the starting eleven. This Manchester City side will be difficult to call other than Sergio Aguero who will no doubt start given his record against Chelsea.

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I am looking forward to this game but am strangely nervous. The prospect of a another long trophyless journey home fills me with a sense of dread. I am hoping it will not come to that.

Man City Square Predicted XI

Goalkeeper

Ederson

Defence

Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Aymeric Laporte, Oleks Zinchenko

Midfield

Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva

Attack

Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane

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