Pep Guardiola can improve Man City squad before January transfer window

Midfield trio

Manchester City’s battering at the hands of Aston Villa showed that midfield problems go beyond Rodri. A rusty John Stones struggled to fill in for the Spaniard, but taking the roles of last season’s No.8 kings Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne[1] were right-back Rico Lewis and striker Julian Alvarez. One of the necessities of Pep Guardiola’s small squad[2] is that the players are able to flourish in several positions, and in different games Lewis and Alvarez have thrived in the middle.

But as they struggled in the Midlands, the bench felt telling[3]. Summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes[4] were not preferred in their specialist roles, while 2022 signing Kalvin Phillips remains marooned from any starting XI. There was mitigation, yet even still there was also very little dispute from supporters when the team was announced.

ALSO READ: Every word from Pep Guardiola and Stefan Ortega ahead of Crvena Zvezda clash[5] ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland update as Man City starter vs Crvena Zvezda confirmed[6] Guardiola has seemingly given up on Phillips but needs to be able to call on Kovacic and Nunes this season if City are to challenge as strongly as they did last season.

The quicker they can bed in the better, and a dead rubber in Belgrade feels like the perfect opportunity for them to get some rhythm and form – but they will not be given starts for nothing. Once again, the teamsheet will be revealing.

Gvardiol at home?

On a similar note, Josko Gvardiol remains an intriguing signing after his move from RB Leipzig. The Croatian has a wonderful touch and his bombing runs up the pitch from left-back offer opportunities that weren’t available to the team last season.

However, the player himself has admitted the difficulties of playing left back and again at Luton his unfamiliarity with the position caused more problems than his attacking adventures helped. Would Nathan Ake have given Andros Townsend such time to whip that cross in for the goal? City have signed Gvardiol for the long term and it still feels like the middle is the most natural home for a player who started there for his country at the World Cup as well as at club level.

With the ability for Rico Lewis or Sergio Gomez to come in for this game, Wednesday could give Gvardiol an audition for a preferred role.

Champions League first?

Since this time six years ago when it became clear that they were streaking clear in the league, City have been having to come up with internal targets and competition to stay motivated. After winning the Treble, that task is harder than ever. Winning all six group games in the Champions League is a minor achievement in the grand scheme of things, yet it is also something the club have never done before and is barely seen in any group.

City have won as much as they have by not turning their nose up at any opportunity, and they have done the hard work to give themselves the chance to set a new personal best.

Rest up

A small squad with both injuries and players that Guardiola doesn’t fully trust has meant extra workloads for a few players. One of the advantages of having already qualified from the group should be that those stars are allowed to rest. Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias have looked recently like they could do with a breather mentally as well as physically while Julian Alvarez may enjoy a break – especially if he will be needed to lead the line against Crystal Palace given Erling Haaland’s injury.

Any opportunity to keep Rodri fresh should be taken, and it wouldn’t hurt Phil Foden either to preserve him for Palace.

References

1. ^ Kevin De Bruyne (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Guardiola’s small squad (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ the bench felt telling (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Matheus Nunes (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Every word from Pep Guardiola and Stefan Ortega ahead of Crvena Zvezda clash (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland update as Man City starter vs Crvena Zvezda confirmed (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)