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FA Cup semi-final preview: Manchester City, Chelsea clash as United face Coventry

Blueprint 2024/5/3

Manchester City will take on Chelsea at Wembley in a bid to reach yet another FA Cup final. The Citizens’ dreams of winning back to back trebles came to an end in midweek, after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid on penalties after dominating large parts of the game.

It was certainly a painful loss for them, and they will be out to avoid another catastrophic loss against a side they have bossed in previous seasons.

Chelsea on the other hand showed a clinical edge in a 6-0 beat down of Everton, with former City man Cole Palmer scoring four times to take his goal tally to 25 in all competitions.

The Blues have drawn their last two games against City despite losing the previous six, as a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge was followed by a 1-1 draw at the Etihad. City remain the overwhelming favourites, however, with Pep Guardiola now setting his sights on the double.

On Sunday, Coventry City and Manchester United will do battle at Wembley. The Sky Blue are eighth in the Championship, and got to this point after staging a dramatic comeback to beat Wolves 3-2 despite being 2-1 down by the 90th minute.

The win sent them to the semis for the first time since 1987, when they famously went on to lift the trophy. They have lost three of their last four games though, which won’t be seen as solid preparation coming into this one.

United on the other hand continued their underwhelming season after playing out a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in their last fixture. They now sit seventh in the Premier League and are winless in their last four games.

Having defeated Liverpool in the previous round, they will now look to make it to successive FA Cup finals. That is easier said than done however, as the Red Devils have been far from impressive with their displays. Furthermore, Coventry have what it takes to hurt them, so Erik Ten Hag will have much to ponder ahead of this one.

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