LONDON: Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has warned Manchester City that the Premier League leaders are back to full power heading into their seismic showdown at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho's side are five points clear of second placed City and Ivanovic claims they are confident of extending that lead over the champions after a much-needed morale boost in the League Cup in midweek.
Stung by their humiliating FA Cup fourth round defeat against third tier Bradford last weekend, the Blues responded impressively by booking a League Cup final berth thanks to a 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Liverpool.
The victory was secured by Ivanovic's extra-time goal and the Serbia international celebrated by insisting the result was a sign Chelsea are ready to hit peak form in the crucial clash against City.
"We showed the real power of our team and in the end deserved to be in the final," Ivanovic said.
"We know we can improve and we'll improve in the next couple of games."
Ivanovic's bold declaration might not sound so threatening to City if Chelsea's star striker Diego Costa is suspended this weekend.
Costa is facing a three-match ban for his apparent stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can on Tuesday, although the Spain international has appealed the charge of violent conduct and a Football Association verdict is due by Friday.
Facing Chelsea without Costa would be a significant lift for City, who have struggled badly since influential Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure departed for African Cup of Nations duty.
Toure's exit has coincided with a run of three games without a win for City, including damaging back to back home defeats against Arsenal in the league and then second tier Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
But City manager Manuel Pellegrini is adamant his players, including veteran midfielder Frank Lampard who is set for his first return to Chelsea since leaving the Bridge at the end of last season, are still confident of overhauling the Blues.
"I am concerned, not because of the Chelsea game, but because in the last two games at home we didn't score goals and we conceded two goals in each," he said.
"But we don't have any problem with motivation. I think we are going to work hard and I hope we can win at Stamford Bridge."
Comments
Comments are closed.