Manchester City have to turn their attention to the Domestic Cup competition now as they are involved in an all-Premier league clash with West Ham United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
Manchester City are 3rd in the table and are comfortably into the Round of 16 of the Champions League but there is an air of uncertainty and frustration around the club. Most of it is induced by outside factors but the advent of Pep Guardiola had built such an unprecedented hype that the expectations were always going to be difficult to match up to.
The players at City are perhaps not suited to follow his instructions to the boot and unlike Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the players are perhaps not in the top most bracket in the world. Especially the midfield and defensive players.
While it was foolish of people to expect him to run away with the title in his very first season given the sort of tactics he employs and his fixation of playing football in a particular manner, they perhaps did not anticipate that City would be 10 points off the leaders Chelsea, who are also helmed by a man who is in his first year.
The match against the Hammers will not be an easy one and having being knocked out of the EFL Cup, City would want to progress in this competition.
Predicted 4-1-4-1 Manchester City Lineup Vs West Ham United
DEFENCE
Willy Caballero is likely to get a look in. He hasn’t been atrocious by any means in the matches he has played and there hasn’t been a whole lot of difference between him and Bravo.
Zabaleta is likely to come in at right-back while Stones can earn a recall after being dropped in the last game.
Otamendi deserves a rest and Kolarov is the likeliest candidate but Pep might throw a surprise with Tosin Adarabioyo an option alongside him. Clichy or Kolarov can be at left-back.
