Manchester United will be the guests of Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend, as Pep Guardiola is currently grappling with a defensive crisis.
It appears that John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji will be unable to participate due to injuries, while Rico Lewis is suspended as a result of his red card at Crystal Palace last weekend.
This implies that City will be limited to the use of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol as recognized senior defenders.
mentioned in his pre-match press conference that he was considering experimenting with a different approach, such as utilizing a back five and attacking wing backs, or requesting a midfielder to play out of position at full back (Mathues Nunes).
Given the dire lack of results for City and the lack of form exhibited by Walker and Gvardiol in recent weeks, it appears to be a logical decision to establish a central three on either side of Dias and replicate United’s shape.
The problem is determining who is capable of assuming the role. Nunes may be capable of performing a role on the left, and Bernardo Silva may serve as the most suitable substitute on the right.
That would enable Matteo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan to maintain control, while Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne could unleash their creativity behind Erling Haaland.
Jeremy Doku and Savinho could also provide game-changing options off the substitute, while Phil Foden has only recently regained full fitness following an illness and was on the bench against Juventus.
It is probable that Ederson will continue to serve as the goalkeeper. XI predicted by City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol; Bernardo, Kovacic, Gundogan, Nunes; Grealish, De Bruyne, Haaland
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