Pep conjures up ‘ridiculous’ plan to take on Ten Hag
PEP GUARDIOLA has ‘ridiculous’ tactical plans swirling in his head before Saturday’s derby against Manchester United. Manchester City can go within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with victory at Old Trafford, where Guardiola has won six times in nine visits. The City boss operated with two midfielders as false nines during a dominant Carabao Cup win at United three years ago, which Kevin De Bruyne claimed to have taken the players only 15 minutes to perfect in training. Guardiola is not averse to switching things up, with Joao Cancelo starting as a right winger during away games at Liverpool and Chelsea this season. And he may have another surprise up his sleeve. ‘I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players being quite similar because I have a few ideas, some thoughts, ridiculous ones against United,’ Guardiola said. ‘But still I didn’t watch their last games. I have to see the way they play at home and if they change something. I still have to review it. That is why I don’t have a clear line-up against United.’
Guardiola confirmed that Kalvin Phillips is in line for his full debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup tonight, and challenged the 27-year-old to depose Rodri as the club’s preferred central midfielder. ‘It depends on him if he can fight with Rodri — the big clubs have to have this,’ he added. ‘He has to fight with Rodri for the benefit of all of us. Rodri cannot slip for the feeling he has someone close to him. With the duels especially, Kalvin is a guy who understands when the ball is coming and is strong in the air.
‘He has the quality to break lines, wide and inside. He has to improve the reception of the ball from our central defenders and this is a question of time. He’s a national team player. He played amazingly at the Euros. ‘He has mentality, resilience, fight — many attributes that meant he could settle with us and I’m convinced it’s going to happen.’
Guardiola suggested that neither Erling Haaland nor De Bruyne will start at St Mary’s, after the pair also sat out the FA Cup win over Chelsea. ‘The players have played a lot of games in the last years,’ he said. ‘With Kevin not playing for four or five days — will he lose something? I don’t think so.’