Blues ready to run gauntlet in February
PEP Guardiola does not want to publicly discuss talk of a quadruple before March – and a crunch set of fixtures at the end of next month could determine how successful City’s season will be.
As well as booking their place in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, Tuesday night’s victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate gives the Blues a glut of games across the four competitions.
City head to Basel on February 13 for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
That weekend, they will be fighting for a place in the FA Cup last eight – should they make it past Cardiff on Sunday.
The following week sees the first chance of silverware in the League Cup final against the Gunners.
A league game with Arsenal has then been squeezed into midweek, days before a home game against Antonio Conte’s side.
By that point, the Blues will have completed 29 of their 38 league games. They currently hold a 12-point lead over second-placed United, as well as a far superior goal difference.
Next up at the Etihad after Chelsea are Basel, which will determine whether or not City make the quarter-finals of the Champions League for only the second time in their history.
All of City’s league games in March have been moved for TV purposes: Chelsea (h, 4pm, Sun 4), Stoke (a, 8pm, Mon 12), Brighton (h, 4pm, Sun 18) and Everton (a, 5.30pm, Sat 31).