Chelsea seek to derail City’s quadruple bid; fans return
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea potentially have two chances to torpedo Manchester City’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple — but can end the chase as early as Saturday, when the two sides clash in an FA Cup semifinal.
In-form Chelsea will fancy their chances at Wembley in a match that could serve as a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final.
Leicester take on Southampton in front of returning fans in the other semi, while there is a clutch of Premier League matches that will influence the outcome of the topfour race and the relegation battle.
Pep Guardiola said after Wednesday’s victory against Borussia Dortmund that sealed their place in the Champions League semi-finals that he and his players would drink some “good wine”.
The Catalan manager will hope for another reason to celebrate at Wembley this weekend but will be wary after 10-man Leeds handed them a rare league defeat last week.
Chelsea, revitalised since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in January, will pose a formidable threat to City and their dreams of winning four trophies.
The club have suffered just two defeats under the German — including the 1-0 loss to Porto in the second leg of this week’s
Champions League quarter-final — and are in the battle for a topfour place as well as silverware.
Liverpool are desperate to return to the Champions League next season after their midweek defeat in the quarterfinals
against Real Madrid. Klopp’s men, in sixth place in the Premier League, are three points behind fourth-placed West Ham and two points behind Chelsea. Leicester, in third, look vulnerable after successive defeats. —