There is never a dull moment at Chelsea, and New Year’s Day brought even more drama as Maresca left his role as Blues head coach after 18 months in charge.
The Italian manager, recently linked to the Man City job, departs Stamford Bridge with two titles — the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup — but those trophies did not earn him favour with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Were he still in the job, Maresca probably would have had to face questions about the possibility of replacing Guardiola in a few months; however, the higher-ups have instead given the former midfielder the chop after a dismal run of two league wins in seven.
The West London club’s run across all competitions reads two wins in the previous nine matches, further highlighting the world champions’ below-par results preceding the new year.
Those statistics paint a bleaker picture considering the capital club’s upcoming trip to the Etihad, where they have been winless in seven matches across all competitions since their 2-1 victory in May 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.
Three permanent head coaches later — five if interims are included — the five-time Premier League champions are still searching for victory in Manchester, and their precarious top-four hopes could take a further dent if recent history does not change this weekend.
Although Chelsea are fifth in the table, three points off Liverpool in fourth, the Blues are just above Manchester United on goal difference, one point clear of Sunderland, two above Everton and three ahead of Brentford, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
The Etihad is not where anyone would want to head if they are winless in three league away games, but interim boss Calum McFarlane will hope for a miracle against the title contenders.
Man City’s six-match winning run in the competition was halted by Sunderland on Thursday when both teams played out a goalless encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Far from the usual dull goalless game, the matchday 19 fixture was undeniably entertaining for the neutral, with the Black Cats giving all they had to extend their unbeaten start to the season on Wearside, thus ending the Sky Blues’ eight-match winning run against them.
History in this fixture has favoured the Citizens in recent years, underlined by the 11-match unbeaten streak the Manchester giants carry into this weekend, highlighting their dominance over the capital club since losing three in a row in the space of two months between April and May 2021.
With those chastening defeats a mere memory, the hosts will believe Chelsea are there for the taking, and they will back themselves to punish a vulnerable London outfit in the final match of gameweek 20.
MANCHESTER CITY
Out: Savinho (unspecified), Oscar Bobb (hamstring), John Stones (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (heel), Omar Marmoush (AFCON), Rayan Ait Nouri (AFCON)
Doubtful: Nico Gonzalez (unspecified)
Julisha's predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland
CHELSEA
Out: Moises Caicedo (suspended), Levi Colwill (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Jorrel Hato (unspecified)
Doubtful: Marc Cucurella (thigh)
Julisha's predicted XI: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; James, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Start time: 5.30pm GMT, 12.30pm ET, 9.30am PT, 20:30 EAT
Venue : Etihad Stadium
