Chelsea ended Manchester City‘s quest for a historic quadruple of trophies as Hakim Ziyech’s purpose earned a 1-0 win to take the Blues into the FA Cup closing on Saturday. A dangerous day for City additionally noticed them lose Kevin De Bruyne to an ankle harm simply over per week away from the League Cup closing, the place they face Tottenham, and the primary leg of their Champions League semi-final towards Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea have been good worth for an additional spectacular win below Thomas Tuchel and shall be favourites for the German’s first silverware in English soccer once they face Leicester or Southampton May 15.
Tuchel may land a good greater prize within the Champions League simply months after changing the sacked Frank Lampard in January.
His facet confirmed they’ll get the higher of City in what could possibly be a gown rehearsal for the Champions League closing ought to the English golf equipment see off PSG and Real Madrid within the final 4.
The bodily calls for of City’s bid for a clear sweep of trophies was proven as Pep Guardiola made eight modifications from the facet that beat Borussia Dortmund in midweek with goalscorers Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez amongst these rotated.
Tuchel made simply three modifications and Chelsea appeared the far much less disjointed facet in a shiny begin.
Timo Werner’s cross was swept house by Ziyech after simply six minutes, however the purpose was dominated out for offside towards the German worldwide.
That proved to be the one shot on the right track of a cagey first 45 minutes that did little to whet the urge for food of a possible reunion in Istanbul for European membership soccer’s biggest prize on May 29.
Despite the variety of modifications, the convenience with which Chelsea have been in a position to spring fast counter-attacks shall be of concern to Guardiola with the fearsome duo of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to come.
From one slick break, Chelsea’s wing-backs mixed however Ben Chilwell may solely slice Reece James’s cross huge.
City bought to half-time with none injury on the scoreline, however suffered a doubtlessly big blow to their hopes of nonetheless clinching a treble of trophies early within the second-half.
Just 11 days earlier than the primary leg of the PSG tie, De Bruyne appeared to roll his ankle in a problem with N’Golo Kante and was changed by Foden.
City have been nonetheless reeling from the lack of the Belgium attacker once they have been lastly caught out by the Chelsea counter-attack.
Guardiola’s resolution to retain Zack Steffen in purpose for home cup competitions backfired because the American was caught in no man’s land when Werner raced in behind and as soon as once more squared for Ziyech to roll into an empty internet.
Steffen made some measure of amends moments later to deny Ziyech a second when the Moroccan was clear by way of.
City took till the ultimate 20 minutes to get going, however their finest probability of sending the sport to extra-time got here from a nook as Ruben Dias headed over from shut vary.
Instead, it was Chelsea who discovered the online once more by way of Christian Pulisic in stoppage time just for the offside flag to once more come to City’s rescue.
But there was no saving a bid for historical past for Guardiola’s males as they can’t now higher Manchester United’s treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup from 1998/99.
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