Is there a couple of modes to make to solve several problems for Manchester City?

As January has progressed, it is clear to see that fatigue has hit the Manchester City squad. Players such as Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Nico, and Erling Haaland, just to name a few, have carried a heavy workload over the past month and longer. Pep Guardiola’s side are also contending with an injury crisis, which has further depleted the City squad. To find solutions to get City back on track after three consecutive draws against Sunderland, Chelsea, and Brighton, Pep Guardiola will have to find solutions with the squad he has. Are there any moves in terms of team selection that Pep Guardiola can consider to freshen up his team?

Manchester City do have options amongst their squad to change the dynamic.

Pep Guardiola has persisted with a midfield contingent of Nico or Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden for the past two months. Tijjani Reijnders has also featured prominently in midfield. Watching City play, Bernardo Silva drifts to the right wing to accommodate Rayan Cherki drifting into a central role. It has worked, as City are unbeaten in their past eleven matches. However, watching Bernardo Silva over City’s past three matches, he does look to be getting tired. Is there a solution amongst the current squad to give Bernardo the rest he needs? There does seem to be one on closer inspection.

The arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth does give City a player to play on the right wing. That is one solution alongside a rejigging of City’s midfield mix.. But there appears to be another. Perhaps by starting Nico alongside Rodri, or Tijjani Reijnders for that matter, can give Bernardo the rest he needs. Another move is moving Phil Foden to the right wing. Foden is adept at cutting inside from the right, and can drift into dangerous positions from out wide. He is a bigger attacking threat than Bernardo Silva, that is a given. Moving Foden to the right can also facilitate Cherki playing as a number ten. That is Cherki’s best position and with Foden on the right and cutting inside, with Cherki as a ten with Rodri and Nico forming a strong midfield base, Pep Guardiola’s side does look stronger in theory. It is a move to ponder if nothing else.

Final thoughts.

I dot think that by playing Nico and Rodri together can help give Bernardo Silva the rest that he needs. Manchester City’s captain is a warrior and is always available for selection and will always give 110% on the pitch. But he does need a rest at some point. By playing Rodri and Nico together, Bernardo can be rested. With options such as Semenyo and Jeremy Doku for the wings the options are there. Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden can play as a ten. Foden could slot onto the right wing and that would give City more creativity in attack and that move could help Foden get back into form. Of course, Erling Haaland would play up front but perhaps by changing the dynamic it will help Pep Guardiola’s side click in the final third and give Bernardo Silva the rest he needs. A lineup like the one below may help Manchester City prosper and help rest their captain.

Midfield: Nico and Rodri.

Number 10: Rayan Cherki or Tijjani Reijnders.

Wings: Phil Foden/Antoine Semenyo on the right, Jeremy Doku or Antoine Semenyo on the left.

Up front: Erling Haaland obviously.