Preview: Chelsea set for Man City clash without key man Enzo Fernandez

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By Alex RobertsChelsea ended their four-game losing streak with a 7-0 FA Cup win over bottom of League One Port Vale. Don’t read too much into that, their last clean sheet came in the 4-0 win over Hull, and Man City are an entirely different kind of opposition.Pep Guardiola’s side appear to have entered their end of season flow state. Their elimination from the Champions League at the hand of Real Madrid lit a fire under them, going on to beat Arsenal in the League Cup final, and then dominate Liverpool. Unsung heroCity have some tremendously talented players on their books, but do you know who not enough people are talking about? Matheus Nunes. He has gone from being a fringe central midfielder to one of the best right backs in the league.Of course, a Guardiola right-back isn’t a typical right back, but his numbers speak for themselves. 20 chances created, 23 successful dribbles, 48 tackles, and 134 recoveries. Simply put, he’s taken his game to a level few thought he had.Erling Haaland and Rodri, who happen to be FotMob’s top two rated Man City players, still get all the plaudits, and rightly so, they’re great, but Nunes, who is third, deserves his flowers, and we’re here to give them to him.“I don’t see how this benefits the player or the club“Enzo Fernández spent the international break flirting with Real Madrid, although he never mentioned them by name. Chelsea then decided to suspend him for two games, and he has since apologised to the squad and manager Liam Rosenior.Unsurprisingly, they didn’t need him against Port Vale, and in all honesty, it was probably pretty unlikely he would have started in the first place. Fans called for his suspension to be lifted for the City game, but Rosenior has now confirmed that it stands.It’s a huge call from a manager that is yet to win the supporters over. If Chelsea go on to lose this game, questions about how they would have performed with Fernández in the line-up are inevitable.For Chelsea legend Joe Cole, who was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power during the week, the situation reflects badly on both parties:“It’s a difficult one, it’s not so much the punishment’s right, it’s the fact that it’s the second time this has happened now [with Enzo Fernández]. The club has got to take a stand.“For players like Enzo, this wasn’t the Chelsea he was sold at the start when he joined. I don’t think it’s right coming out and saying you’d leave the club, but I do understand his frustration.“Then you get to the question of whether the punishment is right. The rubber is going to hit the road at some point where if he does want to leave, he’s going to have to put a transfer request in.“We don’t know how long this has been going on for, but if it’s got to the point where Chelsea have had to ban him for a crucial match (against Manchester City), I don’t see how this benefits the player or the club.“If you’re the club, you say to Enzo ‘You’re contracted with us for five more years. You carry on with this rubbish and we’re happy to throw away whatever we’re paying a week and your career’ [by not playing him].“I must admit, I don’t know if this is the right model. I haven’t thought of a better way [of dealing with Fernandez], so it’s a mess, it really is.”Team newsMan City don’t have any self-imposed suspensions to deal with, but they do have a few injuries. John Stones (calf) and Joško Gvardiol (broken leg) are both out.Guardiola confirmed that Rúben Dias (hamstring) is close to making his return as we head into the final few games, but the trip to West London has come a little too soon for him.The hosts have a few more worries. Reece James (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Filip Jörgensen (groin), and Levi Colwill (ACL) are all out.With Fernández suspended too, Chelsea are without their captain and vice-captain, leaving a major leadership void. Cole Palmer wore the arm band against Port Vale, but his performance wasn’t the best, so it remains to be seen who will get it against City.PredictionWe’re not expecting much from Chelsea in this one, City are a far better side, and that should show. So, we reckon it’ll be 3-0 win for Guardiola’s lads.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Joe Cole was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power.