Manchester City are going through a mini-crisis at the moment. Losing four matches in a row is not something Pep Guardiola’s super-successful team is used to. However, the same has happened and the Cityzens will use the upcoming international break to recuperate and find their way out of their current position, which finds them as second in the Premier League table.
Out to an early first half lead, Manchester City could not hold on to their lead in a 1-2 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Probably the English champions should alter their playing style a bit to cope with the absence of midfield talisman Rodri, the recent Ballon d’ Or winner and probably their most important player.
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Manchester City should play two defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1:
Manchester City have been playing with a 3-2-4-1 formation that often becomes a 4-1-4-1 out of possession, with Rico Lewis playing in a hybrid role. However, as Mateo Kovačić, who is not a typical No. 6, has been playing as the holding midfielder in Rodri’s absence, the Cityzens often get found out while defending against fast attacks of the opposition. Lewis drops to the flank to defend as the right-back, which leaves Kovačić to fend for himself in the middle.
In such a scenario, Mattheus Nunes, who has been starting on the left flank in the last few matches, should probably be playing alongside Kovačić to allow the latter to play more freely. If Nunes remains alongside Kovačić, the Cityzens should have enough numbers in their defence to take care of the attackers of their opponents. It will also allow Kovačić to exert his creative influence that has been evident in patches in the ongoing season.
If Nunes plays in the double pivot alongside Kovacic, Bernardo Silva might have to play on the left flank in the absence of Jack Grealish and Jérémy Doku, both of whom are injured at the moment. However, that is a change that Guardiola should make to his team combination to take care of his team’s vulnerability against quick attacks of the opposition. This will make their playing formation a solid 4-2-3-1, which might not allow them to retain numerical superiority upfront, but will make them more secure in defence.
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Manchester City have a few monumental clashes coming up after the international break:
The next two Premier League matches of Manchester City, which will take place after the international break, are of great importance to them. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are their next two opponents in the Premier League, both of whom are pretty formidable as oppositions.
Liverpool are in fantastic form at the moment and have opened up a five-point lead over the Cityzens after 11 matches. Hence, Guardiola’s men will be eager to reduce that lead by beating the Reds in an encounter that will take place on December 1. Chelsea and Arsenal are also within in striking distance making the top four wide open.
However, for that to happen, the Cityzens will have to curb their tendency of conceding soft goals. Being more secure at the back is, therefore, absolutely necessary for them. Hence, playing Nunez alongside Kovacic is something Guardiola should seriously consider doing. It remains to be seen whether the 53-year-old Spaniard decides to somewhat alter his strategy in the upcoming matches.
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