WILL TUCHEL PASS DEVIL’S TEST
CChelsea’s six-Premier League Unbeaten run under new manager-Thomas Tuchel will be put to test with the visit of title contender, Manchester United at Stanford Bridge tomorrow. Since taking over from Frank Lampard, Tuchel’s Blues are yet to taste defeat in all competitions and their resolve would be put to test by the Red Devils who are still pushing for the title inspite of being 10 points adrift of neighbours, Manchester City helsea Manager Thomas looking to make it 20 straight wins in Tuchel will come faceto-face all competitions when they continue with Ole Gunnar their Premier League campaign at Solskjaer in the Premier home to top-four chasing West Ham League this weekend, as United this afternoon. the new Chelsea boss gets The Citizens made it 19 straight to test his mettle against Manchester victories with a 2-0 success away to United. Borussia Monchengladbach in the
Since Tuchel took over at the Blues, Champions League on Wednesday the Stamford Bridge heavyweights night, while West Ham will enter the have been in fine fettle domestically, contest off the back of a 2-1 home and will be keen to build on their success over Tottenham Hotspur in impressive midweek success against the league last weekend. Atletico Madrid when they host City found it difficult to reach their United. top level in the opening months
However, the Red Devils also eased of the 2020-21 campaign, but Pep past Real Sociedad in their European Guardiola’s side have been on a knockout tie, and having lost just winning run in all competitions once since January 6, will fancy their since the middle of December. chances of getting a result in West Indeed, since being held at London. home by West Bromwich Albion
Tuchel knows that his players have in the Premier League on December to show the work rate and aggression 15, the Citizens have posted against Manchester United, similar to 19 straight wins in all competitions, what they produced against Atletico including 13 in England’s Madrid in the Champions League on top flight, which has seen them Tuesday and just as importantly be rise to the top of the division and wary of complacency. open up a 10-point advantage
He said: “I am very happy with over second-placed Manchester the performance of everybody on United. Tuesday. Guardiola’s team recorded a 1-0
It was very important that we victory over Arsenal in the league concentrated over all 96 minutes. last weekend before winning 2-0
“That we also accept that it’s very away to Monchengladbach in the hard to create chances, but we did first leg of their last-16 Champions all that and it was a very good team League clash on Wednesday, effort – a good effort, a big effort, high which has left them in an excellent work-rate, high intensity. But we now position to reach the next play Manchester United, it is good round of the competition. like this. We cannot get comfortable, It is difficult to see where the we cannot get lazy.” next defeat is coming from for
Meanwhile, Manchester City will be City, and they could effectively wrap up the title if they manage to triumph in their next two in the league against West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers and then overcome bitter rivals United at the Etihad Stadium on March 7.
The Citizens have the best home record in England’s top flight this term, picking up 29 points from 12 matches, while they have not lost to West Ham in the Premier League for almost six years.
West Ham will be the underdogs this weekend as they travel to the runaway leaders, but the Hammers are in desperate need of the points as they battle to secure an unlikely top-four finish.
An excellent campaign to date has seen Dadid Moyes’ side collect 45 points from their 25 matches to occupy fourth position in the table, just four points behind second-placed Man United.
The Hammers are only two points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, though, and sit just five points clear of seventh-placed Everton, who have a game in hand, indicating that plenty could change in the coming weeks.
West Ham will arrive at the Etihad Stadium full of confidence, having won three of their last four in the Premier League, including a 2-1 home success over Tottenham last time out.
Moyes’s team have been excellent at the London Stadium this term, boasting the second best home record in the division, but they have dropped points in half of their 12 away league fixtures, losing to Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea this season.