Manchester City vs Chelsea: Players Who Must Step Up for Blues to Upset Citizens

Chelsea is running out of time to claim a spot in the top four of the English Premier League, which makes today's clash with Manchester City crucial on the road to a Champions League berth. The Citizens haven't dropped a single point at Etihad Stadium, however, so the Blues will need to be in elite form.

Let's take a look at three players who will need to lead the charge if Chelsea is going to pull off a surprising upset.

Didier Drogba

Drogba has become a more inconsistent player in recent years as age has finally begun to catch up with the talented striker. The 34-year-old is riding a hot streak right now, with goals in three of his last four games, making him the team's most dangerous attacking option.

It's important for his teammates to make sure he gets a lot of touches early. He's far more effective if given the opportunity to establish himself within the first 15 minutes. If he's not involved early, his production throughout the match tends to suffer.

Manchester City has only allowed six goals in 14 home fixtures. The Blues need Drogba to show off some of his vintage skills to find holes in a rock-solid back line.

Juan Mata

After spending several years with Valencia, Mata's first season with Chelsea has been a success. He's asserted himself as the team's best playmaker and should continue to improve as he gains more experience in the Premier League.

Knowing City's stout defense awaits him, he'll need to be creative when it comes to creating scoring chances. The Blues will need to work on combination plays, crosses and other tactics to keep the back line constantly moving. If they allow City to set up shot, Chelsea is doomed.

Mata needs to establish the pace early so Chelsea doesn't get caught playing the Citizens' style, which every other opponent to visit Etihad has found unbeatable.

Petr Cech

Cech won't have veteran defender John Terry in front of him to keep the defense in order, so he'll need to take on a bigger role to make his back line remains on the same page. The Blues can't afford even a single communication breakdown.

On top of that, he'll need to be on his toes to keep a lethal Manchester City attack at bay. City is averaging three goals per match at home thanks to its terrific striker trio, which means Cech will have his work cut out for him.

He's still one of the world's best goalkeepers, and there's always a chance he'll steal a game for Chelsea with a couple tremendous stops. That's what interim manager Roberto Di Matteo is hoping for today.