Feature
3-4-2-1
Ederson, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy: How Pep Guardiola will line Manchester City up next season
Football Whispers gives the lowdown on new look City and reveals who we can expect the boss to pencil in on his team sheet
THE 2016-17 season was a strange one for Pep Guardiola.
For the first time in his management career he ended a campaign without a piece of silverware.
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Clearly determined to never suffer such indignity again, the Catalan has spent heavily in the transfer market this summer to overhaul and improve his Manchester City squad.
Three full-backs have arrived, a new goalkeeper is in place and another creative midfielder has been added to an already well stocked area of the City squad.
Guardiola’s spending may not be finished just yet, however, with a central midfielder still on his hit list.
But how will Guardiola set up his Manchester City side during the 2017/18 campaign?
Our friends at answer that question.
Manchester City: 3-4-2-1
Goalkeeper - Ederson Moraes
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Guardiola’s decision to replace Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo last summer backfired as the Chilean failed to adapt to English football and produced a number of hapless performances.
MANCHESTER CITY TRANSFER STORIES
A replacement for Bravo was needed and the man signed was Brazilian Ederson. The former Benfica goalkeeper arrived for £34.9m and immediately became City’s No.1.
His first appearance for the club was far from convincing – he made a high-profile error in a pre-season game against Manchester United which allowed Romelu Lukaku to score.
But Moraes followed that up with a faultless display against Real Madrid.
The big test will come when the Premier League campaign gets underway. But it’s unlikely he’ll end up on the scrapheap like Bravo in 12 months time.
Centre-back: John Stones
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The England international’s first season at the Etihad following a £47.5m move from Everton was certainly a mixed one.
Several high-profile errors proved costly during the first-half of the campaign.
But Stones’ ability to play out from the back helped City impose themselves on opposing sides in several matches.
His ability on the ball will always be valued by Guardiola and there’s little doubt that in a back three Stones would be more protected.
A season playing alongside Vincent Kompany may also be vital for his development. The Belgian is a defensive leader and that is something City lacked for the majority of last season.
With a guiding hand next to him, Stones can mature into a top European defender.
Centre-back: Vincent Kompany
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If Manchester City are to mount a title challenge this season they’ll need their influential captain fit for the entire campaign.
When Kompany is in the side, City’s defence is organised and resolute.
The Belgian managed just 11 Premier League games last season but City lost only one match with him at centre-back and kept five clean sheets.
Tellingly, in the 27 top flight fixtures without the 31-year-old, they only managed eight further shutouts.
Guardiola will desperately hope Kompany is finally over his fitness problems.
Centre-back: Nicolas Otamendi
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Much like Stones, there seems to be little middle ground with Argentina international Otamendi. When he’s good, he’s very good. When he’s bad, however, City concede goals.
Last season the 29-year-old was the one constant in Guardiola’s ever-changing defence. His physical style complemented Stones and, to a lesser extent, Kompany.
But playing in a back three could bring out the best in Otamendi as any mistake he does make won’t necessarily be punished.
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Right wing-back: Kyle Walker
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Having let Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna leave at the end of their contracts this summer, it was inevitable City would spend big on replacements.
For several weeks it appeared Dani Alves would arrive at the Etihad but his last-minute decision to join PSG forced Guardiola to act quickly in the transfer market.
City plumped for Walker, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur for an initial £45m.
Brazilian right-back Danilo has also arrived from Real Madrid for £29.5m but it’s the England international who will be first-choice when the Premier League campaign gets underway in August.
Centre-midfield: Yaya Toure
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The one-year contract extension the Ivorian signed at the start of June completed what has been a surprising comedown by Guardiola.
When the Catalan arrived in Manchester last summer, Toure’s spell at the club looked over.
A very public feud between the City boss and Toure’s agent did little to help matters and Toure was left out of the squad for the first 11 games of the Premier League campaign.
However, after an apology the 34-year-old was thrust into the City side against Crystal Palace in November and scored twice.
It was a turning point and Toure would go on to feature in all but two of City’s remaining league games.
He has slowly become a key member of Guardiola’s side. The only question mark is whether he can keep hold of his place ahead of the more dynamic Fernandinho.
Centre-midfield: David Silva
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One of the most gifted players in the Premier League, Silva was often deployed deeper by Guardiola in order to help dictate possession and control games.
It was a role the Spain international, given his quality, took to without any trouble. Silva averaged 61 passes per game in the top flight last season, of which 87.2 per cent were completed.
His number of key passes did slip to 2.4 per match but that was largely because he wasn’t always operating in the final third.
Silva is now the conductor of this City side and will be a key cog in the Guardiola passing machine.
Left wing-back: Benjamin Mendy
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Having let Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov leave the club this summer, City went big to bring in Monaco’s Mendy.
A world record fee for a defender of £49.2m was paid to secure the France international’s signature and he will be first-choice on the left flank for Guardiola this season.
Mendy’s athleticism makes him ideal for a wing-back role but he is more than capable defensively if Guardiola opts to play a back four.
The 23-year-old will hope to add a Premier League winner’s medal to his collection after helping Monaco win Ligue 1.
Attacking midfield: Kevin de Bruyne
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City’s record signing enjoyed a fine first season under Guardiola. The creative Belgian registered 20 assists in the Premier League despite playing several different roles.
He is the most versatile of Guardiola’s attacking talent. and the former Barcelona boss will always find a place in his side So the 26-year-old who has blossomed into one of the finest players in Europe after leaving Chelsea in 2015.
Attacking midfield: Gabriel Jesus
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Few players have made such an impact in the Premier League after joining mid-season than the 20-year-old Brazilian.
In his ten Premier League games Jesus struck seven goals and added four assists.
Incredibly, he was involved in a league goal for City every 59 minutes following his arrival from Palmeiras.
The challenge for Guardiola is to cement a way of playing Jesus and Aguero together.
But he appeared to be finding a formula towards the end of last season and is likely to play both together for the forthcoming campaign.
Striker: Sergio Aguero
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Guardiola may have had doubts about the Argentine’s work ethic without the ball but there’s no doubting Aguero’s quality when his City are in possession.
The striker combines pace, power and skill, and is a clinical finisher.
Aguero ended last season with 33 goals in all competitions – his best return for City – and 20 in the Premier League.
He is a match-winner and one Guardiola will ensure is in his starting XI.
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