Chelsea
head coach Maurizio Sarri has labelled Manchester City as the best team in
Europe, but Pep Guardiola simply replied: "We are not."
Guardiola said: "Thanks but we are not the best. To be the best you have to
win the titles."
On the trip to Chelsea, Guardiola added: "Always Stamford Bridge is
difficult. I have travelled there many times as a manager and won once -
last season. Most times I lose there."
Guardiola's City have won 13 of their Premier League games and are unbeaten
in the league since April.
Chelsea were unbeaten in their first 12 Premier League games but lost 2-1 at
Wolves on Wednesday -- their second defeat in their past three league games.
Those dropped points have left them in fourth place, 10 points adrift of
leaders City after 15 games.
City, who finished 30 points better off than Chelsea last season, and after
insisting they are the best team in Europe, Sarri said that is his target
for his own side.
"At the moment they are stronger than us but our final target is to be the
best team in Europe," he said. "We need to work, we need to improve. In 90
minutes anything can happen. We know it's very difficult but we have to
believe in it."
Team news
Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero are still not available for City.
Midfielder De Bruyne has a knee problem while striker Aguero is struggling
with a muscle issue, and City boss Pep Guardiola said: "Both cannot play.
Both will be back soon."
Jorginho and David Luiz are expected to return to Chelsea's starting line-up
for Saturday's visit City.
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri reported no serious injuries ahead of the clash
and is expected to restore his first-choice line-up after Wednesday's loss
at Wolves, a second defeat in three league games.
Mateo Kovacic could start in midfield and Olivier Giroud could come in up
front.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost two of their last three home Premier League games against
Man City (W1), having lost just two of their first 18 against them in the
competition (W11 D5 L2).
Manchester City haven't won consecutive top-flight visits against Chelsea
since January 1955.
Manchester City have never won four consecutive matches against Chelsea in
all competitions - this is the 161st meeting between the teams.
Chelsea had just seven shots against Man City across their two Premier
League meetings last season - only Leicester vs Man City (4) and
Huddersfield vs Liverpool (6) had fewer against an opponent last season.
The reigning top-flight champions haven't won at Stamford Bridge against
Chelsea in the Premier League since April 2002, when Man Utd won 3-0; the
Blues have won five and drawn six of 11 matches since then.
This will be the fifth time Chelsea have faced Man City in the Premier
League with the Citizens top of the table - Chelsea won the first two
(December 2011 and December 2016), while Man City won both last season.
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 14 away Premier League games (W11
D3) - they've never gone 15 without defeat on the road in the top-flight
before.
Maurizio Sarri hasn't lost two successive league games as a manager since
October 2016, when Napoli lost in Italy's Serie A against Atalanta & Roma.
Paul Merson's prediction
Liverpool will be hoping Chelsea do them a favour against Manchester City
but in truth, Maurizio Sarri's side must do themselves a favour in regard to
getting into the top four. They are 10 points behind Man City now so even if
Chelsea win, seven points is a big gap at this stage of the season. When are
City going to lose another three football matches? And that's without
Chelsea losing another game.
Play Fantasy Six-a-Side for Chelsea vs Manchester City HERE
If you are going on form, you can't see anything but a Man City win. If City
get this game out of the way and don't lose, I don't see how they don't go
through the whole league season without losing. There's this game and then
Manchester United away but they play Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal at
home so if they come through this game unscathed I really don't see where
they lose.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
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