International Courant
Who: Chelsea vs Manchester Metropolis What: English Premier League The place: Stamford Bridge, London, United Kingdom When: 4:30pm native time (15:30 GMT) on Sunday, August 18 The right way to watch: Al Jazeera Sport has all of the build-up to the match, plus full textual content commentary
Manchester Metropolis will likely be with out Rodri for the beginning of their Premier League title defence after Pep Guardiola revealed the Spanish midfielder will likely be dominated out of Sunday’s season opener towards Chelsea.
The influential 28-year-old has solely simply returned to coaching after being despatched off throughout Spain’s 2-1 win over England within the closing of Euro 2024 final month.
Whereas England trio Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker are hoping to return to motion at Stamford Bridge after the European Championship break, Rodri has not but been cleared to return to motion.
When requested earlier than the match whether or not Rodri would be capable to play towards Chelsea, Guardiola instructed reporters: “No likelihood.
“He is in coaching. I do not know, I have not seen him but. He feels good. We’ll must see how he feels after coaching.”
Rodri’s absence is an early setback for Metropolis’s bid to win a fifth successive Premier League title.
Metropolis are eager to make a powerful begin to their title defence in west London, however Guardiola admitted health points might hamper them on the opening weekend.
Foden, Stones and Walker aren’t but absolutely match as they solely returned to coaching midweek after their holidays.
“I am fairly positive they don’t seem to be prepared for 90 minutes, perhaps quarter-hour,” Guardiola mentioned.
“The principle factor is that everybody is again and, besides Oscar (Bobb), the remainder are OK.”
Bobb was on account of bear surgical procedure on Friday to restore a damaged bone in his leg, which he sustained following an incident on the coaching floor on Wednesday.
Guardiola expects the younger Norwegian winger to be out for as much as 4 months.
“Sadly he had a big effect and received injured,” Guardiola mentioned. “He may have surgical procedure this afternoon.
“Hopefully he’ll be okay and again in three or 4 months. We’re so unhappy for him.”
The setback for Bobb follows the current departure of Argentine ahead Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, with Guardiola anticipating him to be compelled to look the switch marketplace for replacements.
“Possibly or perhaps not, we’ll see,” mentioned the Spaniard. “I am very proud of the choice I’ve. We’ll see. I am prepared.
“We are going to see what occurs out there. We will proceed like this till January or perhaps we add some gamers.”
Enzo Maresca faces a troublesome problem in his first league recreation as Chelsea supervisor, developing towards his former mentor Pep Guardiola (Eddie Keogh/Getty Photos)
Manchester Metropolis should be careful for the hole once they go to London to tackle Chelsea
Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca, in the meantime, is satisfied it’s only a matter of time earlier than his costly, rebuilt workforce problem Metropolis for the Premier League title.
Maresca, who joined Chelsea from Leicester final season, is Chelsea’s sixth supervisor in a troublesome interval since Todd Boehly’s consortium purchased the membership in 2022.
The Blues completed final season 28 factors behind champions Metropolis and have endured a summer season of turmoil as Boehly launched into a significant money-making spree that has left Maresca with a dangerously bloated squad.
After main Leicester to promotion from the Championship final season, Maresca will bear his baptism of fireplace within the Premier League towards Metropolis.
However the 44-year-old Italian, who was a part of Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola’s teaching workers till his first season at Leicester, is assured Chelsea could make life disagreeable for his outdated employers if given the time.
“For me, my private opinion, the large distinction in the meanwhile between us and different groups that dominate English soccer is only a matter of time,” mentioned Maresca.
“Golf equipment that work with the identical supervisor for 9 years, eight years. We work with the identical supervisor for a month.
“We will certainly shut the hole with time. Hopefully that may occur very quickly.”
Metropolis’s final match at Stamford Bridge in November resulted in an exciting 4-4 draw, with former Cityzen participant Cole Palmer scoring the Blues’ last-minute equaliser.
The match was certainly one of two attracts within the competitors, ending a six-match successful streak for Guardiola’s aspect towards the west Londoners. Chelsea’s final victory previous to that run got here within the 2021 Champions League closing when Kai Havertz, now at Arsenal, scored the one purpose of the sport.
That match did certainly mark Chelsea’s third consecutive victory over Metropolis that season, together with an FA Cup encounter. Metropolis did, nevertheless, win the league match within the English capital that season 3-1, with a younger Phil Foden among the many goalscorers.
Chelsea workforce information
Captain Reece James has been suspended for Chelsea’s first three video games of the season and can be receiving remedy for a hamstring damage.
The Blues squad now consists of greater than 50 gamers, following the numerous signings this summer season. Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor might make their debuts on Sunday.
England midfielder Conor Gallagher, whose proposed switch to Atlético Madrid fell by way of this week, is coaching individually from the squad and isn’t eligible for choice.
Manchester Metropolis workforce information
Manchester Metropolis will likely be with out Rodri, who’s on the high of the listing of gamers set to overlook the season opener after the Spain star injured his hamstring in the course of the Euro 2024 closing towards England.
Oscar Bobb is one other confirmed absentee with a damaged leg bone, that means he’ll miss the primary three or 4 months of the season
Jack Grealish stays a doubt after lacking the Group Defend by way of damage, whereas there are additionally doubts over the health of England trio Foden, Stones and Walker.
One-on-one
This would be the 177th assembly between the golf equipment. Chelsea have gained 69 video games, whereas Metropolis have gained 65.
The primary assembly came about in 1907 and resulted in a 2–2 attract West London within the outdated Division One.
Within the final match in Might, Metropolis gained 1-0 within the FA Cup semi-final.
Chelsea vs Manchester Metropolis: English Premier League Match Preview | Soccer Information
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