Manchester City were one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market this summer as they spent over £200m on their top transfer targets to give Pep Guardiola a shot at the league title this season. They made a decent start to their campaign with a victory over Brighton in their first game of the season and there were a few surprises from the manager in the team selection.
Out of a couple of surprises, using former Real Madrid star Danilo at left-back is one that got the fans of the club a bit by surprise. The Brazilian full-back played regularly as a right-back for most of his career but the Spanish gaffer decided to give him a go at left-back, where he performed decently.
Kyle Walker, another fullback that joined the club this summer, seems to have cemented his place at right-back and Danilo’s performances at left-back did no harm to his reputation.
Mendy and Walker are not as versatile as Danilo and it looks like Pep will go into the new season with three fullbacks in his squad. So, is that a smart move by the manager or do City still need to spend on another fullback?
The real problem for City is the fact that they have no player, what so ever, to deputize in these roles. Fernandinho did a decent job last season and the only player who played at full-back, who is still with the club this season.
They have very few quality backups even from their academy and this might push Pep Guardiola to search for another full-back, a left-back presumably.
However, his decision to play Danilo has changed things a bit. The Brazilian can act as a right-back when Walker is unavailable while cementing a place at left-back ahead of the young Mendy. The French international is yet to establish himself at the highest level, and though he will get his chances later in the season, might have to settle for a role as an understudy while the experienced Walker and Danilo play on either flank at the back.
Injuries to any one of the player will not be a huge problem for the Citizens and though two injuries can push them down, Pep should not go into the new season with such negativity and should stick with the options he has.
There are very few quality full-backs up for sale in the current transfer market so do you think Manchester City can go into the new season with just three full-backs in their senior squad?
