da esport bet： After drawing 3-3 with Celtic in midweek, things don’t get any easier for Manchester City as they travel to White Hart Lane to face second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
da aviator aposta： As far as City are concerned, this is the scene of a similarly-timed crime from last season, when a late-September trip to the Lane ended in a disappointing 4-1 defeat.
Tottenham is always a fixture that brings goals for City, however, and whatever the failings at the back against Celtic, it is undeniable that Pep Guardiola has taken Manuel Pellegrini’s attacking mentality and turned it into some sort of horrific beast, destroyer of defences.
Who knows what sort of physical condition his players are in this weekend, though, after such a frantic game at Celtic Park on Wednesday night. Recovery times are crucial, but even though City had a day less to recover, Spurs did have to travel back from Moscow – a trip City know all too well.
This time last year, City went the first five games unbeaten, breaking club records and looking unstoppable. Until they were stopped. First by West Ham, and then by Tottenham. It’s unfair to suggest that a first defeat – or even draw – of the season would be a major disappointment for City, but if it were to come on the back of some poor defensive performances against Swansea and Celtic, then Pep Guardiola might start worrying about a bigger blip in form.
Here’s how they should line-up to stop that happening:
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo
After a nervy time at Old Trafford, Claudio Bravo’s mental toughness has come to the fore. This is a man whose debut is arguably the biggest baptism of fire in English footballing history. A Manchester derby in already-unusual circumstances as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola took over the show, Bravo was then thrust into the limelight because of a dropped cross and a tackle on Wayne Rooney.
Since then? Well, it’s been the same old Claudio Bravo! Every game he takes the ball and looks to start an attack, no matter what happened in his first game, Bravo just plays the same way. And it turns out he’s very good at it!
Back Four Bacary Sagna
Pablo Zabaleta started at right back against Celtic, which probably means that Bacary Sagna will against Spurs. Pablo Zabaleta suffered a frustrating season last year under Manuel Pellegrini, and that may have had something to do with age starting to catch up to the Argentinian. After a playing in a breathtaking game in Glasgow, perhaps that means Sagna will get the nod for City.
John Stones
Another player rested on Wednesday night was John Stones, but what was interesting was City’s level of dominance in the game once Stones came onto the pitch.
That might have had something to do with the timing, and the fact that Celtic had given their all for 70 minutes, but when Stones came on, City were able to move the ball more comfortably with Stones always looking to be an outlet for his teammates.
Nicolas Otamendi
Sometimes you need a yin to your yang. And with John Stones providing Pep Guardiola with ball-playing brilliance, Nicolas Otamendi brings more of a raging bull feel to his defence. Sometimes you need that, though, and with Son Heung-Min and Erik Lamela hitting form for Tottenham – who will surely play on the counter – it’s probably best that City have a dominating centre back to help out.
Gael Clichy
Whatever Clichy lacks going forward, he makes up for in defence. The Frenchman is a genuinely good defender with pace, an eye for a tackle and a handy knack of always being able to nip in for an interception.
City will dominate plenty of games this season, but in the bigger games – like this one – they’ll need someone whose defensive qualities lend themselves perfectly to defending the counter attack.
Midfield Fernandinho
We know that Fernandinho’s position in this Manchester City team is probably more of an auxiliary third central defender, these days. But, of course, he lines up in midfield.
The trouble with Fernandinho, though, is that he could probably play anywhere in this City team. Against Spurs, expect him to drop between the centre backs to add solidity when his team has the ball, allowing the full backs to push on without fearing the counter attack too much.
David Silva
Dropping deeper to find pockets of space in which to work has been fruitful for Silva this season. The Spaniard has been one of the keys to City’s success, even if other players will get more of the credit.
It’s a shame in one sense, but in another it makes Silva the perfect playmaker: the focus is on De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero, allowing Silva a little more space to drop into the space, wherever it may be.
Ilkay Gundogan
We haven’t seen too much of Ilkay Gundogan just yet, but what we have seen from the German has been wonderful.
A box-to-box player by trade, that lends himself to playing in what Kevin de Bruyne described as a ‘free eight’ position earlier this season. Gundogan’s good feet and ability to support in attack as well as shuttling back to help out in a deeper position looks perfect for that role.
Attack Raheem Sterling
In the absence of Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling is the man who City are looking to for inspiration. The England international has been in great form this season, and after the vindictively base abuse he suffered just after the European Championships, he deserves his time in the limelight.
Jesus Navas
Many will probably roll their eyes at the sight of this man in my lineup, but although he lacks a ruthless edge, Navas is a man you can trust with every other part of the game. He tracks back, he is a threat to anyone with his pace, he is selfless when he works for the team, and he will carry out orders to the letter. That makes him perfect for the less-than-sexy role that is necessary when your team are playing against title-rivals. And at this point in the season, Tottenham are beginning to look like genuine title rivals.
Sergio Aguero
We asked where City would be without Aguero when he was suspended for three games, but his return has actually heralded City’s shakiest spell so far this season.
But you should never write Aguero or City off. Especially against Tottenham. Aguero has scored 10 times against Spurs in his City career, and the only team he’s scored against more often is Newcastle (11). He’s also scored more Premier League goals against Hugo Lloris than anyone else: he’s scored eight against the France captain, the next highest is Luis Suarez and Eden Hazard with four. Aguero certainly loves playing against Spurs, and his current form is frightening. But then, when the storm is so perfect, it usually never materialises, right?