Crouchy’s Man City v Chelsea Bet Builder
Man City to win
Erling Haaland to score
Cole Palmer to have 1 or more shots on target
Rodri to be shown a card
Moises Caicedo to commit 1 or more fouls
*A Bet Builder on these selections adds up to around 21/1 with Paddy Power. TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY
Man City v Chelsea
Saturday, 5:15pm
FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley Stadium, London
TV: BBC One
City dominated the game against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. I know they got knocked out in the end but they played fantastically well. Madrid have something special in this competition and that’s just how it is.
But I don’t think that’s anything to hold against City really.
They’ll be disappointed with the result, and Chelsea will be licking their lips ahead of the weekend with their Cup semi-final opponents having played 120 minutes just a few days before, but I don’t think this result will derail City’s season.
Even in the first leg, City were much the better team and Madrid managed to stay in it. The only thing at the back of your mind after that was “this is Real Madrid and they always seem to find a way”.
And they did on Wednesday night.
It was an amazing performance by them as well defensively. Anyone playing City has to look at what Madrid have done in that game and and take notes on how they did it.
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – 2024/04/17: Real Madrid CF players celebrate the victory in the penalty shoot-out session at the end of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final second leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid CF at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Federico Titone/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Chelsea certainly should have done this week.
Only they could win 6-0 and still the press coming out of it is all negative after the penalty incident. Things like that leave a sour taste because it’s like watching spoilt kids squabbling. It was embarrassing.
If they needed that goal to make top four, or win a game in the last minute, they wouldn’t be fighting to take it. They all wanted it because the pressure is off.
I’ve been there before where I asked Steven Gerrard to give me a penalty against Portsmouth when I was having a bad time of it. He let me take it, I missed, and Rafa Benitez gave us a massive bollocking after the game.
A win like that though shows that Chelsea have turned things around a bit. They’ve definitely been better recently and look at Cole Palmer scoring so many goals. He’s so calm and mature in his play, he has real presence of mind on the pitch. Conor Gallagher is doing well too, and Noni Madueke, despite the incident the other night, has made a difference. Nicolas Jackson’s scoring too.
But they’re still miles away from where they want to be. It’s got the fans off the manager’s back for now and they are still in the cup. If they could get past City on Saturday they’ll think they have a great chance of winning it.
Man City to Win
But I just don’t see it happening. City are too good to let the midweek disappointment affect them in the cup or the league run-in in my view.
They played magnificently well against Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s not stupid. He’s seen what’s gone on in that game and knows his team would usually have won the tie. He won’t be slating them or ranting and raving because they got knocked out on penalties. They were unlucky.
The Premier League becomes more important for them now obviously too – talk about Double Trebles is gone but you don’t want to end the season with just the FA Cup or nothing at all.
Even if he changes the team around on Saturday with the title race in mind, I still think they’ll be good enough to beat Chelsea.
Erling Haaland to score
I was surprised he got taken off in extra-time as you’d fancy him for a penalty shoot-out. At least it means he didn’t have to play another 30 minutes and I’d expect him to play on Saturday and score.
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Cole Palmer to have 1 or more shots on target
Chelsea have shown in the league this season that they could be a bit of a bogey team for City in that 4-4 draw at the Bridge and a 1-1 draw back in February. They have to be careful because of the danger men City have, but Chelsea have players that can hurt City too.
Cole Palmer’s in red-hot form. It’s almost like City had to choose between him and Phil Foden when they sold him to Chelsea last summer, but he’s been incredible this season and should have a shot on target at least on Saturday.
Rodri to be shown a card
We know City are going to dominate possession and Chelsea will have to try to hit them on the counter. With the pace they have Rodri may have to make a tactical foul or two and could end up in the ref’s notebook if he does.
Moises Caicedo to commit 1 or more fouls
He should definitely commit at least a foul as Chelsea try to contain City and break up their attacking rhythm.
Crouchy’s Man City v Chelsea Bet Builder
Man City to win
Erling Haaland to score
Cole Palmer to have 1 or more shots on target
Rodri to be shown a card
Moises Caicedo to commit 1 or more fouls
*A Bet Builder on these selections adds up to around 21/1 with Paddy Power. TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY
*All prices quoted are correct at time of publication but subject to change
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