Chelsea have edge if Manchester City try to copy Antonio Conte’s game plan

Manchester City will go after Chelsea from the off. Chelsea have rarely been tested since Antonio Conte switched to a back three in September but City will cause them problems.

Pep Guardiola will not worry too much about trying to contain Chelsea, even though they can be a serious threat, as we have seen. City will attack the back three. They will push their wide attackers high up the pitch and ask questions of Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill.

Not many teams have the quality or confidence to challenge Chelsea in that way — but City certainly do. It will make for a fascinating tussle between two managers who have taken different approaches this season.

City might decide to match Chelsea’s 3-4-3, but I’m not sure that would be wise. Chelsea will be working on that system time and again, every week in training. City simply won’t have had the same practice.

City have been magnificent at times under Guardiola but Chelsea are far more settled in terms of identity. I still couldn’t say with certainty how City play under Guardiola. They play good football, try to keep possession and attack, but the system is constantly changing.

Sometimes they will have three at the back, sometimes four. Sometimes the full-backs will provide all the width, sometimes they play inside. Sometimes they play with two wide men.

It is good to be able to have different answers in games when they are not going your way, but most footballers like routine and like to know their jobs. You like to build relationships with the players closest to you on the pitch.

You don’t have those consistent relationships in the City side and that is why it will probably be a bit longer before we see them find a clear pattern. Chelsea, on the other hand, have those relationships. People talk about the three-man defence and the work of Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso out wide, but their central midfielders are absolutely key to their success.

Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante have an excellent rapport. When one goes forward, the other holds. They are tenacious and athletic but also have quality. That is why Cesc Fabregas cannot get a game.

What will City do to try to get the better of them? I believe Fernandinho is one of the best players in the Premier League and he will be at the heart of their effort. But who do they play alongside him?

Fernando would give them that extra solidity. Yaya Toure would provide plenty from an attacking point of view but I’m not sure he’d do enough defensively. Ilkay Gundogan is a creator, but perhaps not the battling type. Pep’s choice in this position could decide the game.