Pep Guardiola will be more than aware his Manchester City side can effectively end the title race this weekend with a win over Manchester United.
That would move the Etihad Stadium outfit a staggering eleven points clear of the rest of the pack after just 16 games, giving the kind of breathing room they need to keep Premier League rivals at bay while focusing their efforts on other competitions such as the Champions League.
Indeed, Sunday’s clash feels like an all-or-nothing affair for the rest of this season’s title contenders; in order to end their hopes with a win in the Manchester derby, however, Guardiola will need to find the right answers to these three crucial questions…
Who can fill David Silva’s void?
While Kevin De Bruyne may have harvested the lion’s share of praise so far this season, David Silva is the real jewel in Guardiola’s crown. The Spanish playmaker perfectly epitomises Guardiola’s philosophy of combining relentless pressing off the ball with technical ingenuity in possession and having featured in all of Manchester City’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, the gaffer will fear for how his side copes without such a pivotal influence.
The consequential question, though, is quite simply who can fill Silva’s void in the engine room. Ilkay Gundogan and Yaya Toure hardly covered themselves in glory against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek but remain arguably the best options on paper. Alternatively, Bernardo Silva is perhaps the most similar to his namesake in style, while Fabian Delph would offer the kind of resilience befitting of a local derby.
And finally, there’s Phil Foden – the exciting youngster who made his debut for the Citizens in midweek. Academy products always tend to bring that extra few percent into derby games.
How can Guardiola catch Jose Mourinho off-guard?
Make no mistake about it; this is as much a mental duel between two world-class managers as it is an on-pitch clash between two highly-talented sides. Jose Mourinho will feel he knows Pep Guardiola like the back of his hand, having encountered the Spaniard 19 times before, and at this point it’s obvious Manchester United will set up to spoil City’s attacking verve rather than take the game to the opposition.
That certainly won’t put off Guardiola but it’s vital he brings something new and different to the table to catch his opposite number off-guard. The inside full-backs used against Chelsea, with Kyle Walker and Delph drifting into the midfield, provides a prime example of the kind of tactical tweak Guardiola will need to ensure his side aren’t too predictable and end up being bogged down by the Red Devils.
Who starts in attack?
The sheer depth of City’s attack is nothing short of phenomenal. While most clubs would relish the chance to boast just one or two of their forward cast, Guardiola has five first-team options to call upon in Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva – and that’s without even dipping into the club’s youth ranks.
That’s unquestionably a fantastic problem to have, but it also leaves Guardiola with a big decision to make ahead of every game – that decision being who starts and who misses out.
Aguero appears almost nailed on to start this Sunday in such a pivotal game, not least because he boasts eight goals in eleven appearances against United, but the wide berths either side of him seemingly remain up for grabs.
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