OFFICIAL POLL: WHO WILL WIN THIS SHOWDOWN? CHELSEA or MAN CITY

 **🔥 PREMIER LEAGUE BLOCKBUSTER SHOWDOWN 🔥**  

**CHELSEA FC 🦁 vs MANCHESTER CITY ⚽**  

**🗓️ Sunday, 12 April 2026**  

**⏰ Kick-off: 4:30 PM UK Time (16:30 BST)**  

**🏟️ Venue: Stamford Bridge, London**  

**📍 Matchweek 32 | Premier League 2025/26**  

### Current League Standings (as of April 2026)

- **Chelsea**: 6th place – 31 games played, **13W-9D-9L**, 48 points, GD +15  

  (Fighting for a top-5 finish and European qualification – just 1 point off 5th-placed Liverpool)  

- **Manchester City**: 2nd place – 30 games played, **18W-7D-5L**, 61 points, GD +32  

  (Still in the title race, 9 points behind leaders Arsenal, but need maximum points to keep pressure on)  

### Recent Form & Key Context

- **Chelsea**: Mixed recent results – three losses in their last four league games. Strong at home but struggling for consistency. They are **winless in their last 12 meetings** against Manchester City in all competitions (including a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Etihad in January).  

- **Manchester City**: Resurgent form – one of their best performances of the season recently (including knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup). Pep Guardiola’s side are in ruthless scoring mode (60 goals already this season).  

### Head-to-Head (Last 12 meetings)

Chelsea 0 wins | 3 draws | Manchester City 9 wins  

### Players to Watch 👀

**Chelsea**  

- Cole Palmer (creative maestro & goal threat)  

- João Pedro (in-form striker)  

- Pedro Neto & Moises Caicedo (key to breaking City’s press)  

**Manchester City**  

- Erling Haaland (goal machine)  

- Phil Foden & Savinho (wing danger)  

- Rodri (midfield anchor)  

**Referee**: Chris Kavanagh  

---

### 🗳️ OFFICIAL POLL: WHO WILL WIN THIS SHOWDOWN?

**Vote below and drop your predicted scoreline in the comments!**  

**1. Chelsea FC win** 🦁 (Home upset incoming?)  

**2. Draw** 🤝 (Another tight contest like the reverse fixture?)  

**3. Manchester City win** ⚽ (City continue their dominance?)  

Cast your vote and let’s see where the fans stand!  

🔥 Will Chelsea finally end their long drought against City at the Bridge?  

Or will Pep’s men march on in the title chase?  

Watch: A Beast named JUAN MATA

 

Liam Rosenior praises Cole Palmer

 Liam Rosenior is confident Chelsea will benefit from having a 'fresh' Cole Palmer during the season run-in, with the Blues head coach also praising the England international for 'what he stands for and what he wants to achieve here'.

Palmer has established himself as one of the world's standout attacking players since arriving at Stamford Bridge in September 2023. He has netted more than 50 goals for the Blues, claimed several individual awards, and cemented his place in the England squad.

The 23-year-old also starred at last summer's FIFA Club World Cup; Palmer was named Player of the Tournament after scoring twice and assisting in the final as we overcame Paris Saint-Germain to be crowned world champions.

There have been new challenges for Palmer to contend with this season, though. Groin and foot injuries restricted his minutes during the first half of the campaign, and it has taken time for the Blues No.10 to get back to what he considers full fitness.

Yet Rosenior, who handed Palmer the captain's armband for last weekend's 7-0 victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup semi-final, believes there is now a 'brightness' to the England international's game, which he hopes will be maintained during the season run-in.

The Chelsea head coach explained: 'I’ve said many times before, Cole is a top player who’s gone through a really difficult period, in terms of injury, in terms of the amount of games that he’s had.

‘What I’m seeing in Cole now is a brightness, a freshness, and hopefully he can maintain that from now until the end of the season.’

Rosenior was speaking ahead of another big game for the Blues. We take on Manchester City on Sunday, hoping a victory will boost our chances of UEFA Champions League qualification.

City is a club that Palmer knows well – it's where he spent the formative years of his career before moving to Stamford Bridge. And Rosenior knows harnessing the talents of the England international is likely to be key in our quest to claim all three points at Stamford Bridge.

He explained: ‘You give him confidence [as a head coach], you point out the things he’s doing well, you point out the things that are still very positive in his game.

‘In terms of chance creation, and I’ve gone through the stats, the chances he’s created in difficult times were very high across the league. We just didn’t take the chances that he created. I showed him that.

‘You can over-analyse at times, but that’s not what I want Cole to do. Cole’s an intuitive player; he needs to be free to express himself to the best of his ability.

‘We have tried to manage Cole before this period. There were questions asked about why he was coming off [in matches] and why he wasn’t starting games. We wanted him fresh for this period and so far he looks really good for that.’

Rosenior was also quick to point out that, in addition to Palmer's undoubted talents, it is his commitment to the cause that makes him such a valuable member of this Chelsea team.

‘I have to give Cole so much credit because he’s put himself up to play for this club at times when other players maybe wouldn’t,' Rosenior said.

‘He’s fully invested in what we do in many ways and I’m really delighted just with him as a player, him as a character, what he stands for and what he wants to achieve here.

‘He’s going to be a huge part of things for me in the years to come.’

Source: Chelsea fc

Chelsea FC Preparing for Ambitious Summer Overhaul as Defensive Reinforcements Top Priority

According to Simon Phillips, the Blues are getting to work on defensive signings for this summer, with that area being identified as a key priority.

Murillo has long been linked with Chelsea and his name is said to have come up again, while another raid on Brighton could be on the cards as there’s interest in Van Hecke.

However, one issue might be that Van Hecke and Joao Pedro had something of a training ground bust-up when they were teammates at Brighton, so that could be an interesting detail to keep in mind.

“Chelsea are weighing up their options for new centre backs this summer, with this area on the pitch going to be the priority,” Phillips said.

“Something is certainly happening with Murillo of Nottingham Forest right now. Having been told about our interest in him MANY times over the last couple of seasons, SPTC Sources have heard his name come up in internal conversations about recruitment once again just this week!”

He added: “Forest could still get relegated this season, and that would make this one much easier to do. But even if they don’t, Chelsea are looking at Murillo as a serious target for this summer.

“And further to that, our top source has confirmed they are hearing that Chelsea are looking to sign two new centre backs this summer.

“Nothing is done or close for Murillo yet of course, but it could advance. As well as him, we’ve had confirmation that Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke IS a player that Chelsea like and are looking into for this summer. I believe it’s been reported elsewhere, but our sources have also now confirmed the interest.

“One sticking point could be that we’ve also heard that Van Hecke had a number of training ground bust ups with Joao Pedro when they were both at Brighton, so we are unsure whether those two have squashed that beef or not, or whether it would stop a Chelsea move for Van Hecke. These things happen all the time, and hopefully they would be adult enough to put it behind them, IF a move should progress.

“Again, I’m not saying these two will definitely be the two centre backs we sign, but there is a lot of noise on them both this week. Remember, Chelsea also looking at other centre backs such as Jarrad Branthwaite, and many more.”

Source: Caught Offside

Chelsea and Enzo Fernández remain in contact to clarify his contract situation.

No agreement has been reached on financial terms, which is understood to be the source of recent tensions.

If no deal is found, his future could be decided this summer.

Chelsea U21s Crowned Premier League 2 Champions for the 2025/26 Campaign

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that our Under-21s team has been crowned champions of the Premier League 2 for the 2025/26 season, securing the title with an outstanding display of skill, determination, and tactical maturity throughout the campaign.

The young Blues finished the season at the summit of the table, amassing an impressive 43 points from 19 matches (14 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses), with a goal difference of +28 (51 goals scored, 23 conceded). This marks Chelsea's return to the top of English youth football's premier competition, adding to previous successes in 2013/14 and 2019/20.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Harry Hudson, who took charge mid-season following Calum McFarlane's temporary elevation to the first-team setup, the squad demonstrated remarkable consistency and depth. Hudson's emphasis on possession-based football, high pressing, and player development has yielded a team capable of dominating matches while nurturing the next generation of Chelsea stars.

Key highlights of the campaign include dominant victories such as a 5-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers at Kingsmeadow in February and a comprehensive 4-0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March. The side also produced memorable performances against top rivals, maintaining their position at the top despite strong challenges from Manchester United U21s and others.

Standout performers across the season included forward Shim Mheuka, who provided clinical finishing and creative flair; midfielder Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, whose vision and energy in the engine room earned praise; defender Harrison Murray-Campbell; and goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who delivered crucial saves. Emerging talents like Jesse Derry, Reggie Walsh, and Samuel Rak-Sakyi also shone, with several players gaining valuable first-team exposure or senior loan experience. The squad blended academy graduates with international prospects, reflecting Chelsea's world-class development system.

"This title is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent within our academy," said Harry Hudson. "The players have shown incredible character all season, adapting to challenges and playing with the Chelsea DNA that we demand. I'm immensely proud of every member of the squad and staff. This success provides a strong platform for these young players to progress towards the first team under Liam Rosenior."

Chelsea Director of Football and Technical Director, along with Academy leadership, highlighted the win as validation of the club's long-term investment in youth development. "Winning the Premier League 2 is not just about silverware—it's about producing players ready for the rigours of top-level football," a club spokesperson noted. "Many of this squad are already knocking on the door of the senior side, and this championship will accelerate their growth."

The title win qualifies Chelsea U21s for the elimination playoffs and the Premier League International Cup, offering further competitive opportunities on the European stage.

Chelsea Football Club extends its congratulations to all players, coaches, support staff, and the dedicated academy personnel who contributed to this achievement. Fans can look forward to seeing many of these talents feature prominently in the years ahead.

Didier Drogba vs. Nemanja Vidić. Watch:

 Didier Drogba vs. Nemanja Vidić.

Peak football 🎬⚽️

Eric Dier is worried that football is losing its characters from the game

🗣 "I loved playing against Diego Costa. It’s a shame you get fewer characters like him in the game. In the 2015 League Cup Final, Costa said something bad in Portuguese, I replied in Portuguese, and he looked at me with complete confusion.

Lots of people don’t know that’s where I grew up, especially foreign players. There’s a general consensus that I just came through Tottenham’s academy."

(via The Times)

Alejandro Garnacho vow to bounce back from poor form next season

 Alejandro Garnacho: “Sometimes the first seasons are more hard, but yeah, I will work really hard in the 7-8 games we have left, then the summer, try to train from the start, to prepare the next season, and to be ready to show my best”.

“Because I know what I can do, and this the most important thing”.

Chelsea legend Ashley Cole has opened up about the grueling reality of managing in Serie

 In an open and honest interview with the Could It Be Magic podcast, former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has revealed his struggles managing in Italy.

“I think the language is massive. It is important, and I struggled to get a number two. It’s been hard getting around the language a little bit. I lived in Italy for a year and a bit.

“My wife is Italian, but I don’t really practice speaking it. But now I need to continue to have conversations with players and just tighten up on my language a bit.

“I literally jumped in the puddle, jumped in the mud, and just went… I’m just going to have to go. It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

Ready to face Man City

 It was a busy day at Cobham as the countdown to Sunday's clash with Manchester City continued in Friday's training.

The work continued at our Surrey training base on Friday morning, with the squad being put through their paces under the watchful eye of Liam Rosenior and his staff ahead of Sunday afternoon's kick-off against City as the race for a top-five finish heats up.

After taking the session, the Chelsea head coach spoke to the media to confirm that he has no fresh injury concerns to contend with following our 7-0 victory over Port Vale, while also stating that this weekend's game comes too soon for defensive trio Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Reece James.

Pictured across the gym and the grass today were the likes of Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Estevao Willian, while defenders Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto and Mamadou Sarr were also involved.

You can scroll down and view some of the best images from today’s workout, and remember to stay tuned to the Chelsea Official App for all the build-up and latest news ahead of Sunday's meeting with City.

Source : Chelsea fc

Rosenior: 'I want to adapt and evolve the team, but not at the expense of winning'

 Liam Rosenior says he will continue to use time on the Cobham training pitches to 'adapt and evolve' his Chelsea side, but the Blues head coach insists that will never come at 'the expense of winning' during the season run-in.

With an eight-day gap between our FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Port Vale and the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League this Sunday, Rosenior has been able to enjoy quality time with his players at our Surrey base.

That is in stark contrast to his first three months in charge of the Blues, which saw the Blues play 20 matches across four different competitions. The routine was pre-game preparation, match-day, recovery work, and then to do it all over again.

'This week is the first since I've been here that we've had two clear training days in a row to work on things,' our head coach explained when facing the media ahead of the visit of Man City this weekend

'I don't think a magician can make a team look exactly how we want to in the time that I've been at the club. I want to adapt and evolve the team, but never at the expense of winning in the short term.

'You can't change too much too soon. That is something I looked at with the staff during international break, so that we don't change too many things and can win games in the short term, but also still work towards what we want in the long term.'

After back-to-back, disappointing Premier League defeats to Newcastle United and Everton, the Blues are looking to get back on track in the top flight this weekend and claim another three important points in our bid to secure Champions League football for next season.

For Rosenior, each game presents an opportunity to learn more about the squad he took charge of at the start of the year, while free weeks between fixtures will enable him to further work on his tactical principles with the squad.

He said: 'Obviously, I watched all of the games [before taking charge] and you then try and make evaluations as you're in [the building] because you get to know the players better.

'For me, it's about making sure we use the time the best that we possibly can. I know where I want my team to get to, and I know what I want the team to look like. That may take time, but it cannot be at the expense of winning games and fulfilling our short-term objectives.'

Liam Rosenior Provides Update on Enzo Fernández Following Internal Discussions

Chelsea Head Coach Liam Rosenior today addressed the situation involving midfielder Enzo Fernández, confirming that the player has issued a full apology to both himself and the club following recent comments made during the international break.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s crucial Premier League fixture against Manchester City on Sunday, Rosenior detailed productive conversations with the 24-year-old Argentine international.

“I have had three to four conversations with Enzo, he has apologised to me and the club,” Rosenior said. “We will deal with that after the massive game on Sunday. It was a serious meeting about something very serious.”

Rosenior emphasised that while the matter was handled with the gravity it deserved, he remains supportive of Fernández’s character and future potential at the club.

“Every single step along this way, I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, him as a person. I believe people make mistakes. But you can’t overstep the punishment for a mistake,” he added. “What I want for Enzo is to go on from here to have an outstanding career.”

Fernández will not feature in Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium as part of an internal two-match suspension already in place. The club will review the matter internally in due course following the game.

Chelsea Football Club values professionalism, unity, and commitment to the collective goals of the team. We continue to support Enzo as he focuses on contributing positively both on and off the pitch.

Multiple sources have stressed Rosenior will remain as Chelsea head coach, even without UCL.

Multiple sources have stressed Rosenior will remain as Chelsea head coach, even without UCL. 

A source close to a senior player admits Rosenior is yet to carry quite the same aura Pochettino and Maresca had in the dressing room, but there is an acknowledgement that he has only been at the helm for three months. 

The club see Rosenior as having a lot more managerial experience when he joined from Strasbourg at the start of the year, compared with Maresca when he was hired from Leicester in 2024. 

Multiple sources close to the club have stressed that Rosenior’s position is secure as the club’s long-term project under the current ownership continues to develop. The 41-year-old Englishman joined Chelsea from Strasbourg at the start of 2026 and has been in charge for just three months.

A source close to a senior player acknowledged that Rosenior is still building his presence in the dressing room, noting he does not yet command quite the same immediate aura as previous managers Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca. However, the source emphasised that this is entirely understandable given the short time he has been at the helm.

The club views Rosenior’s appointment as a considered and stable choice, highlighting that he arrived with significantly more senior managerial experience than Enzo Maresca possessed when he was hired from Leicester City in 2024. Chelsea sees Rosenior’s tactical acumen, man-management skills, and alignment with the club’s playing philosophy as key assets for sustained progress.

Chelsea fc remains committed to providing Rosenior with the time and resources necessary to implement his vision. The club’s focus is on building a competitive squad capable of challenging at the highest level, both domestically and in Europe, under his leadership.

Rosenior Press Conference | Chelsea vs Man City | Premier League | 10/04/26 | CFC 25/26