Jase

Mata in his latest blog post... http://juanmata8.com/blog/en/a-very-demanding-month/

Maybe but Aguero isn't exactly a one-trick pony. He has played as the lone striker before and done well. Play the ball to his feet, make him work the channels and have the likes of Silva, Milner etc link up with him. Not sure about City looking worse after going just 1 upfront because nothing appeared to change really. They were still getting outplayed and outrun by a side who only returned from Turkey on Friday. City have beaten many strong teams with 4-4-2 before but most came in domestic matches and not in Europe. Even then, they have never looked solid at all with that and this season, more teams are taking advantage of their deficiencies. Agree that formations are more about how one sets up the side but for starters, playing with an extra man midfielder could prevent City from being overrun in midfield.

https://instagram.com/p/ztHUMtigzI/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=photo

I'm not but in Manchester City's case, they are not exactly the most hardworking and tactically disciplined of teams to begin with. So, to consistently play 4-4-2 against the bigger sides, especially in Europe, is ridiculous particularly when Pellegrini doesn't look to have drilled his players in any way for the matches.

Wonder what he did during the winter break. He only scored 2 league goals before that but has managed 11 since then.

Yeah, that's the funny side of it. Enjoy it though.

Wolfsburg have gone goal crazy away from home recently. 5-4 at Leverkusen and 5-3 at Bremen yesterday.

Diego Costa's vintage performance leads Chelsea to Wembley glory

Thing is though, West Ham have actually done extremely well at home against the big boys. Outplayed and beat Liverpool and Man City. Unlucky to lose to Tottenham and Arsenal despite being the better side. Also a similar case with United recently. This won't be easy at all.

They should really. There are only 11 Bundesliga games left and they are 15 and 14 points clear of the fifth and fourth-placed team (the final UCL spot) respectively.

Wonder who's more stubborn between Pellegrini and Wenger. Started with 4-4-2, changed to 4-2-3-1 when Liverpool were overrunning them and then switched back to 4-4-2 after conceding. Pellegrini's persistence to play with 4-4-2 in the big games is ridiculous and not to mention, it's funny how he didn't really attempt to play two up top when they came to the Bridge.

No one wants to win the Ligue 1 it seems. Even last weekend, Lyon, PSG and Marseille all blew the chance to go top.

Yeah, unless you want to count the Community Shield too.

Indeed. It was one of his better performances of late when he's being played further forward.

Err, no. Not yet anyway. He's got the FA Cup medal won with Arsenal in 2005.

Every time I watch Costa, I have the worrying feeling that he'll get sent off because of his aggressive nature. But on the other hand, gotta love how he riles up every opposing player in every game. They just can't take it.

Wow. Didn't see that coming. First game as a DM and in a cup final at that and he managed to do so well. He's been brilliant so far.

His goal against Inter was his third in the Serie A, just one less than Cuadrado for Fiorentina this season...

It was perhaps slightly cruel that Courtois didn't start but I can see why Mourinho went with Cech.

An absolute warrior. Unsung hero. Marseille had clearly been ripped off.

It wouldn't be a Mourinho thread on TalkChelsea without a few fellas moaning after we won a big game (or in this case, a trophy)...

Think you have just found a new job at Daily Mail...

His assist rate is getting crazy!