Premier League football returns this weekend after an untimely international break and one of the major talking points over the final six weeks of the season is the race for a top-four spot, which comes with Champions League football.
Currently, Manchester City sit fourth but they’re just one point ahead of West Ham United and Manchester United, whilst Southampton, Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea are all mathematically still in the hunt.
Despite the vast competition, and mega-rich clubs hopeful of featuring in Europe’s elite competition, we fancy West Ham to complete a shock and cap-off what has been a wonderful final season at the Boelyn Ground with a spot amongst Europe’s finest.
High-flying in the Premier League and set for a FA Cup semi-final appearance at Wembley, should they advance past Manchester United in the final cup game at the famous Upton Park, Slaven Bilic’s side have been making history.
Seriously though, it could only get better for the Hammers!
Hit the image below to see FIVE reasons West Ham will beat Man City to a top-four spot!
[ffc-gallery]
[/ffc-gallery]
Form
As we said in the opening paragraph, West Ham United are flying this season. Across all competitions, the Hammers have not been beaten since February 6th and prior to that, they had lost just once since November.
Manchester City, meanwhile, return to Premier League action this weekend having failed to find the net in their last three fixtures and scoring in just one of those games, as they fired four past a sorry Aston Villa side.
With the Hammers having lost just four Premier League matches since October, there’s no reason West Ham’s brilliant run will come to an end.
Saying goodbye to Upton Park
This season was already set to be historic before a ball was even kicked, as West Ham must say goodbye to Upton Park as they prepare for life in the fantastic Olympic Stadium in Stratford- which brings the dawn of a new era.
With the club eyeing the perfect send off to Upton Park, and there being just five Premier League matches remaining at the famous stadium, the Hammers will be eyeing the perfect send-off; their first involvement in the Champions League.
Spurred on by this aim, the club will also be excited about their first campaign at the Olympic Stadium and Champions League football would be the perfect welcome to their new home.
City’s Champions League involvement
West Ham may have an FA Cup quarter-final replay with Manchester United to worry about, and the potential of the semi-final and showcase final at Wembley to consider, but Manchester City have more to focus on.
The Citizens have never advanced past the quarter-final stage in the Champions League, which is not good enough for a side of their calibre, and a double-header against French giants Paris Saint-Germain is on their fixture list.
City will have one-eye cast on this competition, knowing that PSG are one of the best side’s in Europe, so expect further slip-ups in the Premier League.
Pellegrini’s departure
Manchester City’s decline in form has arrived at the same time as Manuel Pellegrini’s confirmation he would leave the club at the end of the season, paving way for Pep Guardiola to arrive. Whilst this rose excitement amongst supporters, it’s had the opposite effect on the squad.
Players will be worried about their future, with Guardiola likely to make wholesale changes, and it’s showing in their displays. With crucial fixtures to come, City can’t afford any more slip-ups but they’re likely to occur.
For West Ham, it gives them the perfect situation to take advantage of.
Lack of pressure
Even if West Ham were to miss out on a top-four finish and exit the FA Cup in the replay with Manchester United, the Hammers have still surpassed expectation this season- especially as it’s Slaven Bilic’s first campaign in charge.
Even the most optimistic of Hammers’ supporters would not have predicted such a successful season, which has seen them defeat Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea, so there’s no pressure.
Anything that happens between now and the end of the season is just an added bonus, so the player’s can play with freedom and without the expectations- whereas Manchester City will be crumbling under the weight of their failings.
