Post-Mourinho era at Chelsea overshadows title tilts

Second-placed Arsenal host 3rd-placed City

This is an Aug 16, 2015 file photo of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as he gestures while he stands on the pitch ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. Mourinho has left Chelsea with the club languishing one point above the relegation zone just seven months after winning the Premier

League title. (AP)

LONDON, Dec 18, (AFP): Jose Mourinho’s abrupt departure from Chelsea has put the crisis-torn champions’ clash with Sunderland on Saturday firmly in the spotlight on a weekend that would otherwise have been dominated by

“In the game against Porto, a very good team, we played very well, we scored two goals and created chances, but we were like another team on the pitch against Leicester.”

Mourinho’s exit has overshadowed a big weekend in the title race as secondplaced Arsenal host third-placed Manchester City on Monday, while surprise leaders Leicester travel to Everton on Saturday. Arsenal are two points behind Leicester and one ahead of City and a victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s side would be the perfect boost heading into the busy Christmas programme.

The Gunners’ chances of beating City would be greatly improved if Chile forward Alexis Sanchez is fit to feature after a hamstring injury and boss Arsene Wenger is cautiously optimistic.

“Maybe there is a slight chance for Alexis to be in the squad again, but it is too early to be sure about it,” Wenger said.

City seem more likely to have a key figure back in time for the Emirates Stadium showdown after Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, who has missed the last four games in all competitions, returned to full training on Wednesday following a heel problem.

Aguero’s return would be timely for City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who once again had to endure speculation this week that Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola is being lined up to replace him at the end of the season.

Guardiola has long been a target for Chelsea and has also been linked with fourth-placed Manchester United, whose manager Louis van Gaal desperately needs a win against struggling Norwich on Saturday to silence the critics of his conservative tactics and keep pace with the leaders.