Pep’s selection dilemma for Manchester derby

MANCHESTER CITY can seal the league title today in what is traditionally their biggest fixture of the season, yet manager Pep Guardiola might still be tempted to field a weakened side against rivals Manchester United.

With a crucial Champions League clash against Liverpool to come next week, and a 3-0 deficit to overturn, the Catalan coach faces a dilemma.

Having watched their rivals Manchester United dominate English football for the majority of the 1990’s and the new millennium, City fans are relishing their opportunity to get one over their bitter foes at the Etihad Stadium.

The task is a simple one – beat United and City will seal the fastest-ever Premier League title in front of their own fans, forcing United to look on with envy.

In ordinary circumstances, Guardiola would not even entertain the idea of deploying anything other than his strongest team to secure his first league title in England, and keep City on course for a record points haul.

However, what happened at Anfield on Wednesday would have given the Catalan coach food for thought. Liverpool blew City away in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with a blistering display of attacking football.

That 3-0 defeat leaves City on brink of an exit from a competition many tipped them to win, given their relentless league form. Guardiola, though, is not giving up just yet.

“I believe a lot in this team,” he said after Wednesday’s match. “Nobody believes we will go through. We will convince ourselves...”

Tuesday’s second leg at the Etihad comes just three days after the Manchester derby – a match City do not necessarily have to win.

City need just two wins from their remaining seven league games to seal that third Premier League crown, and that is assuming United win all of their remaining games, starting at the Etihad.

Losing to United would upset fans, but is unlikely to be detrimental to City’s season. Not overturning their 3-0 deficit against Liverpool, though, would leave them to pick up the pieces of another failed campaign in Europe.

City have only once reached the Champions League semi-finals despite investing eye-watering sums of money in their playing squad.

United are likely to put everything into today’s encounter, and with it being a derby clash, the chances are elevated of some tough tackles flying in.

Guardiola will know that an injury to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne or David Silva would seriously harm their chances of a Champions League turnaround.

It may be a tough decision – and an unpopular one among fans – but pulling some key personnel out of the derby firing line could serve Guardiola well.

Guardiola added his team are tired and need the help of their fans for today’s game. He said the players needed a lift.

“We need the support because we are so tired (and) because United rest all week. We had just a little recovery physically and mentally because our game at Anfield was so tough,” the Spaniard said.

“That’s why it will be so important that in the bad moments, more are going to happen, bad moments will happen next Tuesday (as well), that they feel our supporters are there.

“Sometimes the players or managers, the team, they don’t deserve sometimes to be supported (with) what they have done. But that is not the case – so we need it,” he added.

Guardiola said it was not yet clear whether Argentine forward Sergio Aguero would be ready to return from the knee injury which kept him out of action at Anfield.

Yet the former Barcelona coach gave his backing to Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, despite the striker’s selfcritical comments about his Anfield display.

“He’s so strong, he knows how we like him, he knows how we support him,” Guardiola said.

“He is 21 years old, his birthday was this week before the Anfield game. It is the first time he plays in Anfield, in his first knockout (phase) in the Champions League. You have to live these situations, once, twice or three times to become better players. Always the first time you suffer, the next time he’ll be better.

Meanwhile Liverpool are hopeful Mohamed Salah can be fit for today’s Premier League trip to Everton, but will not rush the forward back into action just for the Merseyside derby, manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday.

Egypt international Salah scored the opener in this week’s 3-0 Champions League quarter-final, first leg win over Manchester City but limped off seven minutes after the break. Local media reported he felt some discomfort in his groin.

Liverpool’s medical team are working to get the 25-yearold ready for the trip to Goodison Park and the return leg against City next week but Klopp said he would not take any chances.

“I can’t make Mo available because it’s the derby, I’d never do it. It’s not possible. I don’t think any of our supporters want us to do that,” Klopp told a news conference yesterday.

“I don’t think it makes sense to talk here about what we do with the boys in rehab. But, of course, you can imagine we have tried everything to make him available.

“If he’s a doubt, he’ll not be involved. That’s how it is with all of them. I would not rest a player with absolutely nothing, with no problem.”

Salah, who has 38 goals for Liverpool in all competitions this season, could be replaced by fit-again forward Danny Ings, who is looking to make his first start under Klopp. – Reuters

David Silva