Cech aiming for second spot

The Blues are currently third place but a win would close the gap to just a single point and Cech feels second place is attainable, with Manchester United's 16-point lead over Chelsea a little to big to bridge.

"It is a big game for both teams," he said. "We need to win to get closer to them and get some advantage ahead of the teams who are following us in the league so it will be an interesting weekend.

"Second place is more than possible for us, we just need to have a good run of results.

"To win the league I think we are maybe a little bit too far, it would need a meltdown from Man United but everything is possible."

Czech Republic international Cech, 30, has three Premier League winners medals and feels City's seemingly ill-fated defence of its title is proof that it is difficult to win consecutive crowns.

"They will be at home and need to win if they are going to challenge Manchester United for the title, they can't afford any more slip-ups," he said.

"It is a new situation for them, there are lots of players in their squad who have never faced the situation of defending a title.

"You can see that they are behind and the pressure is on them and they have to fight with that, it is always easier when you win the first title and is worse when you defend it because you are the team to beat so it becomes tougher."

Interim manager Rafael Benitez will have to choose which of his two strikers to lead the attack at the Etihad Stadium.

Demba Ba returns after being cup-tied for the 1-1 Europa League draw with Sparta Prague on Thursday night with fellow forward Fernando Torres scoring just once in his last 14 appearances.

The £50 million signing from Liverpool has struggled for form since joining the club in 2011 but Cech has said the whole team is still supportive of the 28-year-old.

He said: "The worrying thing would be if he never had any chances because if you want a striker to have a chance he has to create himself or find himself in a situation.

"As long as he will get into the box and get into those situations the goals will arrive.

"Everybody tries to support everyone in the team because we need everyone to play well and feel well to perform and help the team."