Manchester City Face Difficult Task in Dortmund and Chelsea
Manchester City had an unexpected setback in their inevitable English Premier League title-winning run as they lost to Leeds United on Saturday. The result, and Manchester United’s victory against Tottenham Hotspur, means that the Sky Blues’ lead at the top of the EPL table cut from 14 to 11 points. Assuming the Red Devils win their remaining seven league matches, Manchester City will need 10 points from their remaining six matches to win the 2020/21 title. Anything is still possible, but it seems unlikely that City will give up more ground in the league.
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With this in mind, City will now approach a crucial week as they face Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League’s Quarter-finals on Wednesday. The Mancunians will then face Chelsea on Saturday in the FA Cup’s Semi-finals.
Regardless of what occurs over the next seven days, Manchester City have had a remarkable season. They were initially in sixth place in the EPL in December 2020, and they have made up a lot of ground. This spectacular run of form now seems them at the top of the EPL with double digits. City are also still competing in three cup competitions, where they have advanced to a final in one of these three tournaments. The Sky Blues will still have to close out their remaining league matches, but it seems as if the league title will be returning to Manchester.
The EFL “Carabao” Cup Final, scheduled for 25 April, will see City face Tottenham Hotspur. Anything is possible in a cup final, but City boast a remarkable record in this tournament. This will be their fourth consecutive final in this competition in Pep Guardiola’s fifth season in Manchester. Few would bet against the Sky Blues in this match.
It is then that the matches against Dortmund and Chelsea are so crucial. First, the Champions League. To date, Manchester City have only advanced to the competition’s Semi-finals in their history on one previous occasion. This was during Manuel Pellegrini’s last season, where they defeated Paris Saint Germain in the competition’s Quarter-finals.
Guardiola has an opportunity to advance to City’s second Semi-final in this competition, but they will have to face a very difficult Dortmund side. Critics argued that the Germans have not performed well in the Bundesliga this season, and that City should have finished the first leg of the tie by a comfortable margin. Unlike domestic leagues, however, knockout competitions are much more unpredictable. There is a lot more at stake in these games. The pressure will be on Guardiola and his men to deliver as City still chase their first Champions League trophy.
As for the FA Cup, this will be Manchester City’s fourth FA Cup Semi-final appearance in five seasons under Guardiola. Only one of these three previous appearances resulted in a final, and subsequently, the FA Cup trophy. Having already reached the Carabao Cup Final this season, Guardiola and his men will be determined to reach another final.
Overall, a lot is at stake this upcoming week for Guardiola and his men. Will Manchester City advance past Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea? Or will the Sky Blues face heartbreak during this important week?