Heading into a busy run of fixtures, the Eagles make the trip up to Manachester to take on the outgoing Premier Leage champions at the Etihad.
Ahead of the game, TEB had a chat with the guys at City Chief to find out more about the disappointing season that they have been having, thoughts ahead of the game and much more.
TEB – The reverse fixture between our sides finished as a high scoring draw back in December. Casting your mind back, what are your thoughts on that result?
CC – Palace played really well that day — they didn’t give up and punished us when it mattered. From our side, it was another disappointing performance, similar to what we’ve seen too often this season. We didn’t manage the game properly, and in the end, a draw felt like a fair result.
TEB – It’s fair to say this season has been disappointing for City. Are there any glaring reasons why the fall off has hit the team so hard this term?
CC – A mix of fatigue, injuries, and the psychological toll of chasing perfection year after year. We’ve also lacked that killer instinct in some games — dominating possession but not finishing teams off. It’s not a collapse by any means, but by our standards, it’s been below par.
TEB – City are understandably favourites to lift the FA Cup this season despite recent form. Would winning the cup paint over the cracks enough in your opinion?
CC – It would help, but let’s be honest — this is Manchester City, and we set the bar extremely high. An FA Cup would be a great achievement, but questions will still be asked internally about what went wrong.
TEB – City brought in a number of expensive young players in the winter transfer window. Is there any cause for concern within the fanbase that these could be panic buys before a potential decision on the 115 charges?
CC – City spending big is a myth. We have one lowest net spend in last 5 seasons and it is one of reasons for our decline. We have always planned for the long term, and these young signings fit the profile of players we’ve been targeting for years — high ceiling, versatile, technically sharp. The 115 charges are a cloud over the club, but these signings feel more like squad evolution than panic – we are confident 115 charges will be cleared.
TEB – This seems like a crazy question but is Pep still the man to take City forward?
CC – Absolutely. Pep is the best manager in world football, full stop. Every team has dips — even under Pep. But there’s no one better to rebuild, refocus, and go again. When he eventually leaves, we’ll feel it for years.
TEB – Kevin De Bruyne recently announced his decision to leave at the end of the season. Undoubtedly one of the best Premier League players of all time but where does he rank in the City hall of fame?
CC – KDB, David Silva and Colin Bell are our top 3 of all time. De Bruyne been the heartbeat of this team for nearly a decade — the passes, the goals, the leadership. KDB is a generational talent, and when he goes, it’ll be the end of an era.
TEB – Early ambitions for next season?
CC – Bounce back stronger. Win the league. Go deep in the Champions League. We will bring in 3-4 new players to replace 3-4 to freshen things up.
TEB – Prior to the game at the Etihad, is there a weak link in the City line up that Palace should be looking to exploit?
CC – It’s rare, but if we’re being honest — sometimes our full-backs can be exposed on the counter, especially when we push high. If Palace can transition quickly and exploit the space behind Nunes or Rico, that’s the area to look at.
TEB – Expectations for the game this weekend including final score prediction?
CC – It won’t be easy. Palace always give us a game and are in good form. But with a top 5 finish chance still there, we have to show up. I’ll go for Man City 2-1 Palace — tight, but we’ll edge it as we need to make top 5 for Champions League qualification.
