- WHO: Chelsea vs Manchester Metropolis
- That: English Premier League
- The place: Stamford Bridge, London, UK
- When: 16:30 native time (15:30 GMT) on Sunday, August 18
- Learn how to comply with: Al Jazeera Sport can have all of the build-up and full textual content commentary of the sport.
Manchester Metropolis will probably be with out Rodri for the beginning of their Premier League title defence after Pep Guardiola revealed the Spanish midfielder has been dominated out of Sunday’s opener towards Chelsea.
The influential 28-year-old has solely simply returned to coaching after being compelled off at half-time throughout Spain’s 2-1 win over England in final month’s Euro 2024 remaining.
Whereas England trio Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker are hoping to play at Stamford Bridge after their post-Euro break, Rodri has not been cleared to return to motion.
Requested earlier than the match whether or not Rodri may characteristic towards Chelsea, Guardiola instructed reporters: “There isn’t any likelihood.
“He’s coaching. I don’t know, I haven’t seen him but. He feels high-quality. We should see how he feels after coaching.”
Rodri’s absence is an early blow to Metropolis’s bid to win a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
Metropolis would like to make a robust begin to their title defence in west London however Guardiola admitted health issues may hamper them on the opening weekend.
Foden, Stones and Walker should not totally match after solely returning to coaching midweek following their holidays.
“I am fairly certain they will not be prepared for 90 minutes, possibly sure, possibly quarter-hour,” Guardiola mentioned.
“The essential factor is that everybody is again and, apart from Oscar, [Bobb]the remaining is okay.”
Bobb was scheduled to endure surgical procedure Friday to restore a fractured bone in his leg following a non-contact incident at coaching camp on Wednesday.
Guardiola expects the younger Norwegian winger to be sidelined for as much as 4 months.
“Sadly, he suffered a heavy affect and was injured,” Guardiola mentioned. “He’ll endure surgical procedure this afternoon.”
“I hope every little thing goes properly and he can return in three or 4 months. We’re very unhappy for him.”
Bobb’s setback follows the latest departure of Argentine striker Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, with Guardiola saying he could also be compelled to show to the switch market to search out replacements.
“Possibly sure or possibly not, we’ll see,” mentioned the Spaniard. “I’m very pleased with the staff I’ve. We’ll see. I’m prepared.”
“We’ll see what occurs available in the market. We are able to proceed like this till January or possibly we’ll herald some gamers.”
Manchester Metropolis have to be cautious after they go to London to face Chelsea
In the meantime, Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca insists it’s only a matter of time earlier than his expensively rebuilt aspect problem Metropolis for the Premier League title.
Maresca, signed from Leicester in pre-season, is Chelsea’s sixth supervisor in a troubled interval since Todd Boehly’s consortium purchased the membership in 2022.
The Blues completed 28 factors behind champions Metropolis final season and have endured a turbulent summer time as Boehly launched into a spending spree that left Maresca with a dangerously bloated squad.
After main Leicester to promotion from the Championship final season, Maresca will expertise a baptism of fireside within the Premier League towards Metropolis.
However the 44-year-old Italian, who was a part of Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola’s teaching workers earlier than his one-and-done season with Leicester, is assured Chelsea could make life tough for his former employer if given time.
“For me, my private opinion, the massive distinction in the mean time between us and different groups that dominate English soccer, is only a matter of time,” Maresca mentioned.
“Golf equipment which have labored with the identical coach for 9 years, eight years. We’re working with the identical coach for a month.
“I’m certain that over time we’ll slender the hole. I hope that occurs very quickly.”
Metropolis’s final journey to Stamford Bridge resulted in an exciting 4-4 draw final November, with former Cityzen Cole Palmer scoring a last-minute equaliser from the penalty spot for the Blues.
The sport was one in all two attracts in league fixtures, ending a six-match profitable streak for Guardiola’s aspect towards the west Londoners. Chelsea’s final win earlier than that run was the 2021 Champions League remaining, when Kai Havertz, now at Arsenal, scored the one objective of the sport.
In reality, that sport marked Chelsea’s third consecutive win towards Metropolis that marketing campaign, together with an FA Cup encounter, however Metropolis received the league sport in England’s capital that season 3-1 with a younger Phil Foden among the many scorers.
Chelsea staff information
Captain Reece James is suspended for Chelsea’s first three video games of the season and can be receiving therapy for a hamstring damage.
The Blues’ senior squad has been elevated by greater than 50 gamers following a flurry of summer time signings, which may see Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor make their debuts on Sunday.
England midfielder Conor Gallagher, whose plans to affix Atletico Madrid stalled this week, has been coaching individually from the squad and won’t be thought-about for choice.
Manchester Metropolis staff information
Manchester Metropolis will probably be with out Rodri, who heads the record of names set to overlook the opening sport of the season after the Spanish star injured his hamstring throughout the Euro 2024 remaining towards England.
Oscar Bobb is one other confirmed absentee with a damaged leg bone, which means he’ll miss the primary three to 4 months of the season.
Jack Grealish stays a doubt after being compelled to overlook the Group Protect via damage, whereas there are additionally doubts over the health of England trio Foden, Stones and Walker.
Head to head
This would be the 177th assembly between the 2 golf equipment. Chelsea have received 69 matches, whereas Metropolis have received 65.
The primary assembly happened in 1907 and resulted in a 2–2 attract west London within the outdated Division One.
Within the final assembly, Metropolis secured a 1-0 victory within the FA Cup semi-final in Could.
