Manchester City look a revamped side under Pep Guardiola. Despite only playing three games so far, the team have already started to play the way Pep wants them to. Their recent performance against West Ham was very impressive.
Guardiola is known for his ruthless axing of players who he deems not worthy of a starting berth in the squad. The likes of Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala have already been shipped off on loans this year. But the biggest news this summer was the axing of Joe Hart. City’s former No. 1 will now spend the rest of the campaign at Torino.
Saturday will be Guardiola’s biggest test so far. He will come up against old nemesis Jose Mourinho. Now his starting XI will be different to the one mentioned in this article but we have decided to analyze the ideal XI fo City against United.
Goalkeeper – Claudio Bravo
Guardiola likes a keeper who knows how to pass the ball with calm, which was the reason why Joe Hart did not make the cut. The Englishman is not profound with his feet and hence Pep recruited Bravo from Barcelona.
Bravo is familiar with the tiki-taka style of football, something that Guardiola introduced when he became Barca’s manager. Willy Caballero is a decent stopper but not as skilled as Bravo when it comes to distribution and passing.
Defence
Aleksander Kolarov – LB
Alex Kolorov is the more attack-minded of the two right backs at City. Clichy gives more stability, also possessing better recovery than his Serbian teammate but given Antonio Valencia, Jose’s first choice right back might no be available for the game, Kolarov will be a useful weapon.
The options available to Mourinho at left back are Phil jones, Chris Smalling and Fosu-Mensah, all three of whom are not the ideal replacement for Valencia. Kolarov could have a field day against a makeshift left back which is why he makes this spot.
John Stones – CB
John Stones became the most expensive defender of all time after City broke the transfer record to sign him from Everton this window. It might have been a gamble but he looks the part so far in that backline.
Kompany is still not a 100%, making Stones along with Otamendi the only fit centre-backs available to Pep Guardiola at the moment. But even if City’s captain was fit enough to play Stones is guaranteed to start because of his ball-playing ability.
Nicolas Otamendi – CB
Guardiola has so far played Kolarov in his defence but Otamendi is more natural option which is why he features in this position. Kompany is still getting back to fitness and is in no condition to start a game as big as the derby.
Otamendi didn't have the greatest of debut campaign but considering he was paired up with either Mangala or Demichelis last season, he fared pretty well in the public’s eyes. He would be the ideal choice to partner Stones in defence.
Pablo Zabaleta – RB
Bacary Sagna is the faster of the two right backs at Pep’s disposal. He also has a better cross on him. But up against a rampaging Luke Shaw Zabaleta would be a better option. Zabaleta has a better footballing brain and positioning when compared to Sagna.
When you go up against Shaw, having a player like Zabaleta is ideal because he uses his ability to cut inside and his link up play, to get the better of his opponents, because speed rarely works against Shaw.
Midfield
Fernandinho – CM
Pep Guardiola brought in Ilkay Gundogan, another player who fits his blueprint, but with the German just getting back to fitness, he has turned to Fernandinho, who has done an incredible job so far this season.
Yaya Toure is completely out of Guardiola’s plans and Fernandinho is better than Fernando, os it’s a no brainer.
David Silva – CM
Pep Guardiola plays Silva alongside Fernandinho in that 2-man central midfield. But with the full-backs coming in he will push forward to help with the attack. Silva’s playmaking abilities were in full flow against West Ham and he is not very likely to lose his place.
Nolito – LW
Jesus Navas was very ineffective in City’s second game but as soon as Nolito came in they look more like a threat. The Spaniard combined wonderfully well with Silva against West ham and Pep will be banking on that combination once again on Saturday
Sterling – RW
Sterling is a reformed player this season. HE was heavily criticized last campaign and even had a poor showing at the Euros. But he has started the season very brightly and could yet play a crucial role in City’s season.
United might find it a lot more difficult to face the Englishman as compared to last season, given Luke Shaw’s injury concerns as well.
Kevin De Bruyne – CAM
Once again there isn’t a better player than De Bruyne in that City side who can perform that No 10. role as well as he can. De Bruyne scores goals, racks up assists and is a huge threat from set pieces.
He’s the type of player Guardiola loves to have and can play right across the midfield or even as a false 9.
Forward – Iheanacho
Iheanacho is a little inexperienced but what he does bring to the table is goals. He has proven that every time he’s played. Currently, he has the best goals to minutes ratio in the Premier League but he has only played a handful of games.
Guardiola does like to keep faith in youth and this might be Iheanacho’s big chance to shine!
