Allen Hamilton
What: English League Cup Final
Who: Manchester City vs Sunderland
When: Sunday 2nd March, 2014, at 14:00 UK Time
Where: Wembley, London, England
First Taste
Manuel Pellegrini can earn his first taste of silverware as Manchester City manager if his side can down Sunderland in the League Cup final. With the Citizens still in the thick of the Premier League title race, in the FA Cup and the Champions League, although with a mountain to climb in the latter, picking up a trophy could provide a big boost at an important time in the season.
Manchester City will need their strikers to fire, something they have struggled with of late, as Pellegrini has admitted they are not 100 per cent fit. A stuttering 1-0 win over Stoke last weekend was concerning, but only due to the standards Manchester City have set themselves when it comes to finding the back of the net.
Pellegrini's men should also have special motivation for the League Cup final, having lost the FA Cup final last season to Wigan in a shock result. That is something the Chilean boss feels will spur on those of his troops who were involved. "I don't like to talk with them about last year but I'm sure for every player it is a lesson", he said. "It's beautiful to play for a title at Wembley and very awful to lose it."
Nothing To Lose
Sunderland certainly did not expect to be in the League Cup final, even at the start of the season, when they were full of optimism and hope and believing they would not be in a relegation dogfight. Since then, they have changed managers, Gus Poyet coming in during October, and are battling for their lives in the Premier League, sitting 18th at present.
The League Cup final may prove a welcome distraction for Poyet's men, who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Poyet's men have shown they can shock on the way to the final, putting out no less than Chelsea and Manchester United. While beating the latter may no longer be the achievement it once was, it will serve to boost confidence and belief when Poyet tells his men they can win at Wembley.
And for that to happen the Uruguayan knows his side must produce a flawless performance, saying: "We need to be perfect. We need to be at our best level as a group and not make any mistakes, not give any presents or anything away. We need to be outstanding tactically and defensively and we need to be spot on when we're on the ball – if we're not very good on the ball we've got no chance."
Recent form
Manchester City:
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea (15/02; FA Cup)
Manchester City 0-2 Barcelona (18/02; Champions League)
Manchester City 1-0 Stoke (22/02; Premier League)
Sunderland:
Sunderland 0-2 Hull (08/02; Premier League)
Sunderland 1-0 Southampton (15/02; Premier League)
Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland (22/02; Premier League)
Key absences
Manchester City: Stevan Jovetic; Matija Nastasic
Sunderland: Liam Bridcutt (ineligible); Keiren Westwood
Players to watch
Manchester City – Sergio Aguero: Fit and ready to return, the striker will surely make Sunderland pay for any errors at the back and, with the large Wembley pitch, is sure to have space on his side as he aims to put himself into goalscoring positions.
Sunderland – Phil Bardsley: There is no doubt Sunderland will need a special defensive performance if they are to shock Manchester City. Bardsley has been in fine form for the Black Cats and his job will be crucial as Sunderland seek to stop the supply to the opposition's strikers.
Match Prediction
Sunderland have done extremely well to reach the final, but to win will be relying on a poor Manchester City performance and a superb display from themselves. It could happen, but the odds are heavily in Manchester City's favour. Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland.
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