Guardiola faces a Euro dilemma
PREMIER League action finally returns tomorrow and City fans will be able to see their side in a 3pm Saturday kick-off for the first time in more than nine months.
The last time the Blues had a ‘traditional’ kick-off time in the league was on January 6 as they beat Burnley 4-1.
Pep Guardiola has had a free weekend to prepare for the visit of Fulham, and before the international break he suggested the real season begins now.
Starting tomorrow, City will embark on up to 23 games in 98 days before Christmas – depending on their progress in the Carabao Cup.
That gives Guardiola some big decisions to make – especially considering City open their Champions League campaign on Wednesday against Lyon. So who could feature tomorrow?
Raheem Sterling is a doubt after withdrawing from England duty with a back problem. If he is not available, it could open the door for Leroy Sane to make his first start of the season.
The winger was left out of the squad all together against Newcastle, but he featured as a late substitute for Germany last week. He then left the national team camp early for the birth of his daughter.
Alternatively, Bernardo Silva is adept at playing in a wide position, and returns to City having played in both of Portugal’s fixtures.
Up front, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus started against Newcastle. While Guardiola rarely starts with two strikers, he may be tempted to keep the same formation given neither left for international duty.
Riyad Mahrez came in for some criticism after the Newcastle fixture, and is another player who could drop to the bench, but without the injured Kevin de Bruyne and potentially Sterling, Guardiola’s midfield options are limited.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was Ukraine’s hero last week, scoring a last-minute winner, and will have forced himself into Guardiola’s thinking alongside Fabian Delph.
In defence, Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker both provided assists for their countries, but fellow full-back Danilo is back in training and will push both for a starting spot.
John Stones and Aymeric Laporte have established themselves as first-choice centre-backs this season, although Vincent Kompany may be preferred against Fulham given the physicality of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.