Why Squad Rotation Will Be Key Man City Facet in Premier League Title Defence

There was an air of disappointment around the Etihad Stadium at full time on Sunday. Manchester City had thrown a two-goal lead away against struggling Burnley, denying themselves the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to a point and failing to set a new club record of 10 consecutive wins in the process.

The reality, though, is that there is much to be happy about for Manuel Pellegrini and his players. Nine wins and a draw since their lucky escape from Loftus Road in November have turned their season around.

From the brink of a disastrous Champions League exit and with an eight-point deficit in the Premier League, to a situation in which they are now brimming with confidence heading into the new year. It’s been a seismic few weeks for Pellegrini’s side.

They sit three points behind Chelsea who, despite their obvious quality, are far from infallible and will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League with renewed optimism. The fight to beat Chelsea and retain the title looks set to be particularly tight and fraught, with fine margins set to determine the eventual victor.

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Jose Mourinho is a perennial winner, a man capable of providing the extra impetus a side needs to win silverware, much like Alex Ferguson was when he was at Manchester United. He demands an incredible level of hard work and fight from his player and fosters a spirit among his squad few managers can match.

And he’s put together a side with the right blend of strength and creativity. Stoke City tried to bully them recently, using their physicality in an attempt to overwhelm Chelsea and unsettle their rhythm. It didn’t work. Chelsea stood up to everything the home side threw at them, with Nemanja Matic particularly influential, and the class of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard made the difference.

There have been criticisms, though. Against both City and United this season, Mourinho’s negativity has cost them points, with the introduction of John Obi Mikel in place of a more creative midfielder a far from inspiring move, and against Sunderland and Southampton, sides City dealt with comfortably, they looked toothless when desperate for a goal.

There’s little separating the two teams, and a close race for the title seems likely. Pellegrini, though, will be hoping his squad rotation, which has reached levels far higher than at Chelsea, will be the crucial factor when the season enters its climax.

City have made 61 line-up changes this season, whereas Chelsea have made just 29.

Clearly, the two managers have a different approach to team selection, and Pellegrini, who obviously sees resting his side as an important ingredient for success, may well feel the benefit come March, when tiredness usually begins to set in.

Mourinho appears to value a settled side, with the core of his team remaining largely unchanged throughout the campaign so far. Between them, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Matic, Fabregas and Hazard have missed just two league games all season.

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Injuries have added to City’s line-up change total, which is another reason those inside the Etihad will be hopeful of overhauling Chelsea eventually—surely the current rate of injuries at City cannot continue.

They’ve spent the last few games striker-less after injuries to Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, and at various times, they have also been missing the services of Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Fernando and David Silva—all key players in Pellegrini’s team.

City will be desperately hoping their injury situation clears up, and when the Champions League returns in February and the intensity of the Premier League campaign increases, freshness will become increasingly important, and that’s where Pellegrini’s men may just have the edge.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.