- Man City take on Chelsea this weekend
- Citizens thrashed Blues last month
- Bernardo Silva predicts tougher game
Bernardo Silva has drawn comparisons between the Carabao and FA Cup finals as a reason for Manchester City to be wary.
The FA Cup final is going to be contested by two teams who have experienced a lot of success over the years.
Chelsea have won the competition eight times, with only Arsenal and Manchester United recording more victories.
Manchester City are only one behind, and will be playing in the final for a fourth successive season.
Despite both teams having a strong history, it is Man City who will be expected to claim the spoils based on current form.
Bernardo Silva issues warning to Man City
Public opinion on which team should be winning is not everything. After all, Bernardo Silva has pointed out that Arsenal were favourites to lift the Carabao Cup.
However, Man City dug deep and claimed a 2-0 victory. And now, they must ensure Chelsea do not repeat their own accomplishment.
Silva told The Athletic: “We know how tough the challenge is. Chelsea haven’t been in a very good moment, but finals are finals.
“When we played the Carabao Cup final, everyone said Arsenal were favourites and I kept saying, ‘That’s not important. A final is one game, 90 minutes, and anything can happen’.
“If you look at Chelsea, you can’t deny they have fantastic players. On a good day, they’re very difficult to beat, so we expect a very tough game. But we’re also expecting our players to show up and to deliver,” he continued.
“The nine years [at Man City] have been amazing. It would be lovely to finish with a couple more titles. I want to end on a good note.”
Cup finals can be unpredictable
Crystal Palace finished 12th in the Premier League last season, so it was never expected that they would beat Man City.
Nevertheless, the Eagles landed a goal through Eberechi Eze, and went on to win the match 1-0, completing a major upset.
Therefore, City cannot afford to show any complacency against Chelsea, even with the London outfit in dreadful form. This is why Silva’s warning needs to be taken on board.
Man City must not leave themselves vulnerable to counter attacks
If recent matches are anything to go by, City are likely to control most of the possession during the FA Cup final.
Despite this, they have had moments when opposing teams have been able to open them up on the break, which was particularly evident against Everton.
It is so important that the Sky Blues maintain a strong defensive unit, and do not commit too many men forwards at any one time.
Joao Pedro has scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season, while Enzo Fernandez scored a late equaliser against Man City back in January.
They have players who can hurt Guardiola’s team, so playing with maximum levels of care and exercising caution is very much necessary.
Comments.
Loading comments…