Reeling from a Europe exit earlier than anticipated, Manchester City are left to pick up the pieces domestically as they meet Chelsea in the first of two FA Cup semifinals this weekend at Wembley Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side was stunned by Real Madrid on a penalty shootout, battering their La Liga opponents the entire match but failing in front of net on numerous occasions. They needed 76 minutes to generate Kevin De Bruyne's equaliser, before falling short in extra-time despite one-way traffic the entire way.
Now, they must focus on the two remaining domestic competitions over the final month of the season. There are six matches left in the Premier League title race, where they hold a two-point lead over Arsenal and Liverpool — who were also dumped out of Europe — and they will also look to defend their FA Cup title as well.
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Chelsea have little else but this competition to cling to this season, sitting ninth in the Premier League table and dealt a blow in their hunt for European qualification. The European coefficient for English clubs was left in tatters by the aforementioned Champions League failures — it seemed English clubs would be afforded at least one extra place in European competitions next year, allowing Chelsea some breathing room for a potential late-season charge, but now that looks an even more difficult prospect sitting three points behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
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Another earlier than anticipated European exit for Pep Guardiola has changed the narrative a bit on Man City, and they are struggling to finish chances, but there shouldn't be any deterrent from how
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