Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Team news as Pep Guardiola’s side look to capitalise on Arsenal loss in Premier League title race | OneFootball

(REUTERS)

Manchester City will look to translate cup success into the Premier League title race as they travel to Chelsea this afternoon, aiming to capitalise on Arsenal’s shock home defeat to Bournemouth yesterday.

City curtailed the Gunners’ quadruple hopes before the international break by pipping them to the Carabao Cup, rocking Mikel Arteta’s side to such an extent that they then crashed out of the FA Cup to Championship side Southampton two weeks later.

Arsenal have now failed to steady the ship after in the league, losing 2-1 to the Cherries in just their second home defeat of the season, and there is newfound belief that City’s nine-point deficit on the league leaders could quickly be chipped away at, with next weekend’s title clash likely to prove pivotal.

But if Pep Guardiola’s side are going to complete a remarkable turnaround at the top, they need to avoid any more slip-ups and will hope to make no mistake against Liam Rosenior’s struggling Chelsea side, who before last weekend’s FA Cup thrashing of Port Vale had lost four on the bounce.

Pep Guardiola sends warning to Man City players after Arsenal slip-up

Pep Guardiola has issued a stark warning to his Manchester City squad, declaring that next weekend’s clash with Arsenal will be rendered irrelevant if they fail to secure victory against Chelsea this Sunday.

"Talking about Arsenal, if you don’t win at Stamford Bridge – that’s not an easy place to go – maybe we don’t need to make the press conference before Arsenal because it’ll be over," the City manager stated emphatically.

"Everybody knows it. You know it, I know it, the players know it, everybody knows it. England knows it."

(PA Wire)

Will Castle12 April 2026 14:31

The Enzo Fernandez saga highlights a key difference between Chelsea and Man City

When they last met, Enzo Fernandez had the last word. Chelsea evidently feel the midfielder who occupies the dual roles of vice-captain and rebel has talked too much since, and have suspended the World Cup winner for Sunday’s match against Manchester City. In January, however, it was Fernandez who delivered the 94th-minute equaliser at the Etihad Stadium. Calum McFarlane’s only point as a Premier League manager – perhaps ever, perhaps until Chelsea sack someone else again – came at the expense of Pep Guardiola.

Liam Rosenior will be the ninth Chelsea manager the Catalan has faced with City; and that is only counting Frank Lampard once, though Guardiola has encountered him in both stints in charge. Rosenior against Guardiola could be an FA Cup final rivalry, though Fernandez’s recent provocative words, praising the Englishman’s predecessor Enzo Maresca, may have struck a chord at City. The Italian was Guardiola’s assistant, although, despite suggestions that seemed to emanate from Maresca himself, it is hard to imagine him as the outstanding candidate to replace him whenever he does go.

But Fernandez helped highlight a difference between clubs with superficial similarities; each transformed by an injection of wealth, each having a period of dominance, each facing charges – Chelsea’s settled now – over financial deceit to help fund champion teams. The Argentinian covets a move to Real Madrid. So, seemingly, does Rodri. Guardiola shrugged it off, saying no player could turn down Real, that if anyone is unhappy, they can leave City, but that he hopes the Ballon d’Or winner stays. Rodri was not suspended by City; instead, he excelled in their 4-0 win over Liverpool last week.

Richard Jolly previews today’s clash at Stamford Bridge:

The Enzo Fernandez saga highlights a key difference between Chelsea and Man City

Chelsea will be without £107m man Fernandez for this weekend’s visit of Manchester City due to an internal suspension

Richard Jolly12 April 2026 14:16

Enzo Fernandez apologises to Chelsea for Madrid comments – but still has ‘hurdles to overcome’

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has cast further doubt on Enzo Fernandez’s future by admitting a “few hurdles” need to be overcome to resolve the midfielder’s situation, despite the Argentinian apologising for his comments on a potential move to Real Madrid.

“I had three or four (conversations) with Enzo,” said Rosenior. “He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.”

Asked about the talks with Fernandez, the manager continued: “It’s a serious meeting about something very serious that Enzo has said.

“Every single step along this way, I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, I’m not questioning who he is as a person.

“I believe people make mistakes and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake. We’ve made a sanction, I made a decision, and what I want from Enzo is to go on here and have an outstanding career.

“He won’t play on Sunday but hopefully after that he will be a massive part of the group moving forward.

“There are still are few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in.”

Liam Rosenior said things are not what people think between him and Enzo Fernandez (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

Will Castle12 April 2026 14:07

Chelsea's dismal form

Liam Rosenior is tasked with thwarting a Manchester City side who smell blood in the title race today - and considering Chelsea’s recent form, you don’t fancy their chances.

Chelsea may be coming into this game off the back of a 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Port Vale to seal a trip to Wembley for the semi-finals, in turn ending the League One strugglers’ fairytale run.

But before that, things had been dire. Four losses on the bounce, three of which by three goals, has left Chelsea clawing for air in the race for Champions League places.

Their main rivals for that fifth spot looks to be Liverpool, who have been equally patchy. But after the Reds’ impressive 2-0 win over Fulham yesterday, Chelsea are now four points off the top-five.

Points are needed.

(AFP/Getty)

Will Castle12 April 2026 13:52