April Will Define Manchester City’s 2018/19 Season

Whilst the majority of Manchester City’s senior team is away on international duty this week, those who did not travel will prepare for City’s upcoming fixtures in April.

The Blues have a congested schedule next month as they will have eight games in 30 days across three competitions.

City already won the EFL “Carabao” Cup this season, and their performance in Carabao Cup Final saw the Mancunian side turn a corner. Over their last five matches in all competitions, the Blues scored 15 goals and conceded only three.

What is amazing, however, is their form in 2019. Since the start of the new calendar year, the Blues have scored 64 goals and conceded 10. These statistics are from 19 matches across four competitions. This is truly remarkable, but for how long can the Blues keep this pace?

City’s first match after the international break will see them travel to a struggling Fulham side on March 30. Four days later, the Blues will host Cardiff City on April 3 before shifting gears to the FA Cup Semi-Finals against Brighton & Hove Albion on April 6.

Their schedule will be more congested in mid-April, where they travel to Tottenham Hotspur on April 9 for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals. City then travel to Crystal Palace on April 14 before hosting Tottenham for the second leg of the Champions League Quarter-Finals. As if this was not enough, the Blues will face the Spurs again on April 20 for their third encounter in 11 days.

Should City advance from this Champions League tie, they would face either Ajax or Juventus in the Champions League Semi-Finals. The first leg would be held on April 30 or May 1, which would add a potential ninth fixture in April.

Finally, City will travel to Manchester United for the 178 Manchester Derby on April 24 before traveling to Burnley on April 28.

Simply put, it is crunch time for the Blues. It will be a difficult stretch, but if City hope to achieve the unprecedented quadruple, they will have to win all of their fixtures in April.

Given what is at stake, it is predicted Manchester City will defeat Brighton & Hove Albion in FA Cup Semi-Finals, and will do just enough to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in order to progress to the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals. City’s congested list of fixtures and their focus on these cup competitions, however, may see them concede the English Premier League title to Liverpool.

How might the Blues fare next month?