It was a pretty miserable season for Manchester City compared to their ridiculously high standards, but the FA Cup could offer Pep Guardiola’s side solution.
The 2024 finalists have as good as any other, in this year’s competition with Liverpool and Arsenal to go all the way before the fifth round. City caught up Salford before overgrowing a 1-0 deficit in Leyton Orient to make it into the last 16, and the victory over Giant Killers Plymouth on Saturday will send it to the quarter-finals.
Arne Slot paid the prize for a strong rotation against Argyle in round four, and while Guardiola’s approach made a number of changes compared to the 1-0 victory on Wednesday at Spurs, Plymouth will take over a strong city team.
So the Cityzens were able to act in Etihad on Saturday evening.
GK: Stefan Ortega – Everson has regained its place as number one in the city, so Ortega is returned to the Cup goalkeeper.
RB: Rico Lewis – Guardiola returned to Matheus Nunes in the middle of the week and Spurs could not benefit. The converted midfielder went through 90 minutes, which made a Lewis a good bet here.
CB: Vitor rice – We haven’t seen much of rice since entering the club when he quickly campaigned after a difficult debut.
CB: Nathan ake – The Dutchman was an unused replacement in the week after the start against Liverpool. Ruben slides could take a breather.
LB: Nico O’reilly – Guardiola used O’Reilly with midfielder in the fourth round in left-back, and the graduate of the academy was able to offer Josko Gvardiol break again this weekend.
Cm: Ilkay Gundogan – Gundogans City Reunion is not quite planned and the veteran is fighting at the highest level every week.
Cm: Bernardo Silva – Guardiola has been less hesitated in the past few weeks to fall Bernardo, and the Portuguese international sat on the bench against Liverpool and Spurs.
RM: Phil Foden – With Savinho and Jeremy Doku in good shape and ready to be kept for next weekend, there will be room for Foden to operate behind the striker.
Am: Kevin de Bruyne – The decline of de Bruyne was recognizable in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool, but the Belgian can still dominate against this level of resistance. The Belgian was the match winner in round four.
LM: Jack Grialish – Doku was excellent during the week and a shoe to start in Nottingham Forest, so that Geralish could give a chance to shine against the championship fighters.
St: Omar Marmoush – It is not necessary to cross Haaland here, especially if City now has a capable MP in Marmoush.