What Challenges Must Be Addressed at Manchester City?
Current Position Ahead of the Derby
Manchester City approaches Sunday’s pivotal Manchester derby, finding themselves a point behind their rivals, Manchester United. This marks the first time City has entered a derby in a lower league standing than United since December 2020.
United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, faces scrutiny after a shocking exit from the Carabao Cup against League Two side Grimsby Town, with former player Wayne Rooney expressing concerns about underlying issues at the club. Despite these challenges, United heads into the fixture full of optimism after a dramatic win against Burnley prior to the international break, while City contends with two consecutive losses.
Pep Guardiola’s squad is evidently under pressure during this early part of the season, and he must identify and rectify issues urgently to stave off potential crisis levels. When asked whether the derby is more crucial for City or United, Guardiola emphasized a focus on his own team’s mindset, acknowledging the derby’s significance for their supporters.
A Squad Overhaul with 10 New Additions
Last season was particularly disappointing for Guardiola’s side, who failed to secure any major silverware for the first time in eight years. This underachievement has prompted substantial changes within the squad, which lacked the necessary energy previously.
To rejuvenate the team, Guardiola partook in a thorough overhaul, releasing key players like Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, and Manuel Akanji, alongside Scott Carson, whose mentorship proved invaluable to younger teammates. This shake-up has diminished the veteran presence that cannot be swiftly replaced.
In an effort to reclaim the title from Liverpool—who have bolstered their squad significantly with a record summer spend—City has brought in ten new players since January for approximately £350 million. Still, they enter the new campaign without an established right-back, with Rico Lewis struggling against Tottenham and Matheus Nunes giving away a penalty in December’s game against Brighton.
Guardiola cited injuries as a contributing factor to last season’s struggles, a problem that appears to be resurfacing as new recruit Rayan Cherki has been sidelined for two months due to a thigh injury. Other players, including Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Mateo Kovacic, are also unavailable, while John Stones’s fitness remains uncertain, and Josko Gvardiol and Savinho are yet to feature this season.
Reports within the club indicated that training sessions have gone well, inspiring some confidence ahead of this crucial derby, especially following a disappointing home loss to Spurs and another challenging fixture against Brighton.
Moreover, this week is particularly significant for City as they prepare to face their rivals before welcoming de Bruyne back for a Champions League clash with Napoli on Thursday, followed by a match against fellow title contenders Arsenal the following Sunday.
The Goalkeeping Dilemma
City’s goalkeeping situation has also been somewhat tumultuous this summer. Earlier in June, Guardiola maintained that both Ederson and Stefan Ortega would remain part of the project, especially since both played well during the Club World Cup.
Despite initially not seeking a new goalkeeper, City ended up signing three. Marcus Bettinelli joined to fill Carson’s void, alongside James Trafford, whom they re-signed after Newcastle made a substantial bid for the young talent.
Ederson’s trajectory changed quickly; once considered the top choice prior to the season’s start, he was transferred to Fenerbahce just days later. Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain was brought in on deadline day, adding to the confusion after he was unexpectedly released from PSG despite having contributed to their Treble-winning campaign.
Ortega remains with City, having rejected offers to leave, resulting in a crowded goalkeeping roster of four first-choice keepers. Former City defender Nedum Onuoha highlighted Ederson’s significance, citing his exceptional shot-stopping and ability to support offensive play from the back. With Ederson’s departure, the challenge for his successors will be monumental, particularly if they struggle under pressure.
Guardiola has high expectations for Donnarumma, who brings extensive experience as a top-tier goalkeeper. His commanding physical presence could significantly influence matches and provide much-needed assurance in high-stakes situations.
Meanwhile, United also navigates their own goalkeeping concerns, having signed Belgian Sanne Lammens on deadline day, with Amorim confirming Altay Bayindir will start against City.
How United Could Exploit City’s Weaknesses
Despite their own challenges, United may seek to capitalize on specific vulnerabilities that City has demonstrated this season. Amorim’s tactical approach involves drawing opposition pressure before launching direct attacks, typically focusing play along the wings.
City has exhibited notable weaknesses in these areas, conceding goals due to lapses against Tottenham and Brighton, where they failed to contain wide players. This allowed opponents to deliver quick passes that exposed City’s defense.
United’s strategy of advancing wide could pose a threat, especially if they can leverage players with strong hold-up play, like Bryan Mbeumo.
Analysis from former England midfielder Fara Williams indicated that City’s continued defensive errors and habits from previous seasons may be hampering their performance. City has struggled with duels in midfield, particularly in stretched moments of matches—situations where United has found success.
With Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Mason Mount each achieving high duel success rates, they may exploit City’s midfield shortcomings. Guardiola’s lineup choices and their capability to win critical duels will be decisive factors in this weekend’s derby.
