Manchester City vs Chelsea: Levels of expectation have changed – let’s get the game over with.

Chelsea head back to Manchester on Sunday to take on City, a week after a really poor and second-rate performance against United.

Some people will click on this blog post based on the title to see what it’s about or, because they would feel that the feeling of the post is negative. In response I would state that I am just being honest here because as Chelsea fans have seen this season, we really cannot tell you if we are going to turn up against City. We didn’t do it against them at home which cost us, now after our recent run of performances we have to be honest and admit that we could be well beaten this weekend with Manchester City installed as clear favourites. Check out Man. City vs Chelsea betting odds here.

The thing is, we could turn up for this one and if we do, we can beat Manchester City because on our day, with players playing well and on form, we can beat any side you put in front of us because we ARE that good. We have it within us to do it, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Alvaro Morata on form, we can really expose the City defence and prove that they are nowhere near as good at the back as people make them out to be.

The problem we have is our defence at the minute and in my opinion, having seen our recent defeats and the goals we have conceded and despite Andreas Christensen being outstanding throughout the whole season, in times of need as they are now, we need to revert to type and the same back three that won us the league last season with recalls for David Luiz and Gary Cahill. We need experience of the Premier League race to finish inside the top four/title race now and unfortunately Toni Rudiger and Christensen do not have that at the moment.

If I was Antonio Conte, that would be the first change I would make this week which I personally feel is important right now above everything else. The second I would make for the Manchester City game is based on damage limitation and I would make the switch to 3-5-1-1 for the game with Cesc Fabregas, Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante all starting and Eden Hazard playing in support of Morata or Giroud depending on who gets the nod. We need to pack the midfield and then look to counter-attack and expose their defence just as we did with the same formation against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier in the season. This will also be the approach I believe we will adopt against Barcelona which is something we will discuss nearer the time.

My other post that has come out now is focused on our top four hopes being written off once again after last weeks defeat. Within that post, I have stated that with our remaining fixtures not including this game against City, are winnable and that anything we can get from the game this Sunday would be a bonus. Right now it would, we have to be honest based on how we have played of late.

A point would be good, three-points would be fantastic making a real statement of intent for the end of season run-in. A defeat would be expected.

I could sit here and discuss more in great detail of our chances against City, of their weaknesses at the back and through their midfield especially with Fernandinho out injured now, but there is no point. Like the rest of you, I am waiting to see what happens in the hope that this lot can sort themselves and their attitude out.

Our levels of expectation have changed – anything from the game is now a bonus.