Pep Guardiola may well have hinted at his Manchester derby selection ahead of the crucial clash against Manchester United on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side go into the game off the back of three successive wins but City, too, have won their last two games after losing their previous three in all competitions.
Manchester United need a win to keep in touch with the top four and a loss to City would be disastrous for the Red Devils and it seems Pep Guardiola has already hinted at his team selection.
After City’s convincing 3-1 win over BSC Young Boys in Switzerland, Guardiola’s changes in the game may well hint at who will start.
Guardiola’s selection
Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Julian Alvarez all watched from the bench on Wednesday and will all surely expect to start at Old Trafford.
The one decision that may well cause contention for the Citizens is starting Jeremy Doku. The Belgian winger was left out of City’s last trip to a top-six side in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, which came courtesy of a deflected Gabriel Martinelli shot.
Starting Doku against Diogo Dalot, who has been one of United’s most consistent players this season, would be the right-back’s biggest test yet.
Ten Hag’s big decisions
Judging Ten Hag’s team selection for Sunday’s game based on the bench for United’s win over FC Copenhagen is foolish, the Red Devils were desperate for a win.
City, however, are almost certainly assured of Champions League qualification after their three wins in the group and they have the squad depth to countenance so many changes, United do not.
Perhaps Alejandro Garnacho, who has received calls to start ahead of Marcus Rashford, and Christian Eriksen may well be the only two United players who were on the bench on Tuesday who may be in line to start Sunday’s crunch match.
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