Due to Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League and their 2-1 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League, the FA Cup does look to be the most winnable competition for the Blues this season. It has been a league campaign to forget, but there is no question that Guus Hiddink has improved matters at the English champions since replacing Jose Mourinho in December.
Indeed, Chelsea have only lost once since Hiddink took charge and that was away to PSG on Tuesday night. John Obi Mikel’s away goal has given them hope ahead of the return next month, but PSG will fancy their chances of progressing. The Champions League crown is a long shot, but even that is more probable than Chelsea making the top four in the league.
A disastrous title defence has seen them collect just 33 points from 26 matches, which has left them in 12th position in the table. They are an incredible 20 points off the top of the table and also 14 points off the top four. Despite their struggles, Chelsea are still a team full of talented players and one that is certainly capable of claiming the FA Cup this term.
While Chelsea have had time to recover from their Champions League match and also have a free week after this fixture, the same cannot be said for Man City, who have to travel to Dynamo Kiev for the first leg of their last-16 clash in the European Cup on Wednesday. The schedule has not been kind to Manuel Pellegrini and it is thought that the Chilean will select a second-string team ahead of what is a winnable European tie next week.
Man City will also enter the match off the back of successive league defeats, both of which were at home. Leicester recorded a 3-1 victory at the Etihad at the start of the month, before Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 last weekend. Those results have left the former Premier League champions in fourth position in the table, but they are still just six points off the summit.
It has not exactly gone to plan for the team since it was announced that Pep Guardiola would take control at the end of the season. A top-four finish, at least, is still extremely likely, while Man City will also face Liverpool in the final of the League Cup next weekend. While four trophies are still on offer, the quadruple seems a long way away for Pellegrini’s team.