FA Cup Preview

FA Cup Preview

By Noah Solovey

Four teams; but only two can go on. The FA Cup Semi-Finals are tomorrow and there is nothing but excitement from English fans. An in-form Man City faces off against a Chelsea team with a starboy by the name of Cole Palmer, while a struggling Manchester United squad plays Coventry City FC, a Championship club performing incredibly in the competition. Anything could happen.

In this editorial, I’ll be predicting Man City VS Chelsea XIs and the Man City VS Chelsea timeline, while closely examining the odds both teams have. For Manchester United VS Coventry City, I’ll be looking at the timeline and odds as well. Without further ado, let’s get into our first game: Man City VS Chelsea.

Man City VS Chelsea

The Odds and Ends

Man City come off of a devastating loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League on penalties and have been firing in the Premier League lately, including a 5-1 win to Luton, 4-2 to Crystal Palace, and 4-1 to Aston Villa. Man City has a fully fit squad, except for De Bruyne and Haaland both getting minor exhaustion injuries against Madrid. Phil Foden is their man in form proving game after game that he is one of the best.

Chelsea unlike Man City, are very bouncy with their recent results. Most recently a win to Everton 6-0, but also the likes of tying to Sheffield United and Burnley are included. Not playing in Europe this season, they have only been working hard in the Premier League to currently be in 9th place. Their man in form is Cole Palmer, who is tied for the most goals scored in the Premier League while 8 of those goals are penalties.

Don’t wait any longer. Here are my lineup predictions.

CITY XI: Stefan Ortega Moreno, Walker, Ruben Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Rodri, Foden, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland

CHELSEA XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Diasi, Cucurella, Chilwell, Caicedo, Enzo, Gallagher, Mudryk, Palmer, Jackson

Do you agree? Now, we have our timeline. (Goals, Red Cards, Subs)

21’ Jeremy Doku, Assist: Rodri

27’ Haaland Offside Goal

44’ (P, Conceded by Ruben Dias) Cole Palmer

45+2’ HT

61’ Erling Haaland Off, Alvarez On, De Bruyne Off, Kovacic On

77’ Caicedo Red Card

80’ Rodri Off, Nunes On, Gvardiol Off, Gomez On

85’ Jackson Off, Madueke On, Palmer Off, Castledine On, Gallagher Off, Washington On

88’ Phil Foden, Assist Julian Alvarez

90+6’ FT

Manchester United VS Coventry

The Odds and Ends

I think Coventry has no chance. Though United is horrible, United is far better than them Kobbie Mainoo, Garnancho, and Trashford will score. 3-0.

After all, the FA Cup is an amazing tournament and anything could happen. CMON CITEH.

OVERVIEW

Today Man City played Chelsea and it was an upside-down game. Haaland had to miss out as he was injured, and Pep Guardiola didn't play the best team. On the other hand, Pochetino started a normal team.

Everyone said City have the likeliness to win, but they wouldn't beat Chelsea by a large range. The match began and City was not one bit normal. They dominated but kept making unnecessary and unusual mistakes. Chelsea was making mistakes too, but they looked normal and fine. 

Nicholas Jackson had the first major chance of the game because City wasn't that chance-creating team they usually are. Jackson was clear on goal and was guaranteed to score if he shot the first time. Instead, he dribbled around the keeper only to go out of bounds.

Halftime ended nil-nil and all the pundits were saying Chelsea should corner the opportunity and take advantage of their poor playing. The performance was all because of City playing 120 minutes to Madrid, dominating the entire game, pundits saying they should have won, and losing on pens. Fatigue hit them hard.

The second half began looking better than the first, but still a bit unnatural. Nicholas Jackson would end up missing three more easy goals until the 84th minute.

The lightning-fast, creative "Belgian Flash," Jeremy Doku, would dribble past Disasi and pass a ball into star man De Bruyne who would pass it across the 90-yard box only for the pass to be tipped out into Bernardo Silva, my jersey man, and he had an open shot, used it to advantage and slotted it home to put City 1-0 ahead.

Jackson missed one more shot, and soon enough it was full-time. Honestly, Chelsea should have won, but the talent of Man City, mainly Doku who came on as a sub in the 75' caused Man City to win entering their 2nd consecutive, 13th time competing, and 7 time winners of the FA Cup finals against who ever wins the game tomorrow, Man United VS Coventry City.