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After a turbulent week, with several players testing positive for COVID-19, Manchester City travels back to London to face a faltering Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola enters this pivotal encounter with five team members out due to their positive Coronavirus tests. As key cup matches drag on around the corner, Pep will try to maximize the depth of the squad he still has at his disposal while maintaining the excellent unbeaten streak dating back to late November.
Here’s our team planned for the crucial tie at Stamford Bridge …
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There has been much speculation that Ederson may be one of the more recent positive tests. If that’s the case, then the Brazilian shooting plug will have to take a place on the sidelines, opening the door for the American. Zack steffen to claim his first league appearance this season.
As City will not have their quick right-back Kyle Walker, the Portuguese international Joao Cancelo He will surely continue his starting position after some impressive performances. His ability to perform the typical Pep back-winger role, but with increased attacking ability, gives City an additional advantage in the attacking third.
Now in one of the more stable parts of this starting eleven, which is the continually impressive association of Ruben Dias AND John stones. Both provide the brains and strength needed for Guardiola’s aggressive yet surgical style at the base of either side. The seven clean sheets so far this season are due to this excellent pair rather than the offensive press.
The left back is where things get a bit tricky. Nathan Aké performed effectively against Newcastle under pressure or minimal quality, but primarily operates as a stable left-side defender once the side twists into a 3-1-3-3 stance after establishing dominance in the opponent’s half. Benjamin Mendy could very well return for the simple fact that Aké may be a better midweek option against United’s attacking threats. However, we believe that the Dutchman will take up the starting role again, as Chelsea’s talent in wide areas (Werner, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic) presents a considerable problem in the defensive transition.
Midfield three picks himself after impressive feats against Newcastle. Of course, Chelsea offer a considerable advance in quality both on and off the ball. However, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan AND Kevin De Bruyne all impressed in their last 90 minutes. With Cancelo drifting into the right side half space in possession, this subsequently changed Gundogan and De Bruyne to stay very close to each other in the construction game and pick up cute pockets of space on the left side between the lines to initiate scoring opportunities.
The three forwards once again present another problem. Pep still has a generous pool of talented forwards at his disposal, but match congestion will become a bigger issue in the later part of Everton’s postponed game.
Sergio Aguero he managed about 15 minutes in the Newcastle tie and has had more time in training ground to improve his fitness. His selection does feel like compensation in some way though, if he starts against Chelsea then logic dictates he won’t start mid-week.
Without Agüero, City would invariably turn to Torres to operate as a false 9, but recent rumors indicate that the Spaniard could be one of three recent positive tests for COVID-19. If so, Pep must decide between a false 9 or Agüero. We suspect that the Argentine will get the go-ahead for this crucial fight and therefore Pep will choose to go with a false 9 midweek if Jesus is not fit in time.
With recent news from Chelsea’s camp confirming that Reece James and Hakim Ziyech will be out this Sunday, Chelsea’s right flank appears somewhat exhausted. Presumably, Azpilicueta will receive the starting right-back position and thus provides a key objective for Raheem Sterling to focus on it, as it is still the most dynamic exit from the city into the opponent’s area.
On the right flank, this could be any guy from Mahrez, Bernardo Silva & Foden. All of them can claim a claim in this match, as their defensive rigor and dribbling ability will be needed for this difficult showdown against Ben Chilwell. That said, we believe Riyad mahrez He will be given the starting spot as Pep will try to design passing sequences that expose Chilwell to 1v1 situations with Mahrez, similar to City’s 3-1 win over Leicester in December 2019.
Substitutes: Scott Carson, Benjamin Mendy, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Felix nmecha
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