Manchester City return to Champions League action this week when they host French outfit Monaco at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola’s side finished second in their group earlier in the campaign after winning two of their six matches, and suffering just the one defeat, a 4-0 thrashing away at group winners Barcelona.

Whereas Monaco won Group E, a group that included Premier League outfit Tottenham, with three wins and two draws from their six games, with their only loss coming in their final group match away at Bayer Leverkusen.

However, the French side will be in for a tough evening in Manchester on Tuesday as has been City’s decent form under Pep Guardiola, which has seen them lose just once in 2017, and bridge the gap between themselves and leaders Chelsea at the top of the Premier League to eight points.

The Citizens will be disappointed to have gone to Huddersfield in the FA Cup on Saturday and not got the job done, they’ll need a replay to make the last eight, and it was another reminder that some things still need improving between now and May if they are to win some silverware this term, and potentially reel Chelsea in.

Thus, here are THREE things that Guardiola and his City side must improve ahead of the run in…

Defensive solidarity

Manchester City have conceded just one goal fewer than Liverpool this season, which clearly suggests that they also have problems at the back.

Like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Guardiola isn’t totally sold on either of his goalkeepers, with summer signing Claudio Bravo struggling for form since his move, while Willy Caballero, who currently has the gloves, is clearly not the long-term solution.

And then when you look at how often he changes his backline, be it in terms of personnel or the system, it’s evident that he’s still not sure of his best defence.

Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been their best out-and-out defender this term, but he hasn’t featured much recently, while Aleksandar Kolarov has never been the best defender, even if his set piece and crossing ability somewhat overshadows that.

Add in the fact that the full-backs are all past their peak, and Guardiola will need an overhaul of his backline in the summer, but before then he must make them solid and difficult to beat, as they are often left vulnerable and open when attackers get at them.

City, quite simply, have to be better defensively if they are to not only finish in the top four, but potentially reel Chelsea in come May.

Score when on top

City’s recent form has been much better, and a lot of that has been down to Guardiola’s utilisation of a front three consisting of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, and Gabriel Jesus.

They bring devastating pace to the frontline as well as the desire to get at defenders and take them on, alongside getting the ball in the box at every possibility.

However, too often in recent weeks, City haven’t always got the goals their play warrants.

Against Swansea a few weeks ago, Guardiola’s men absolutely dominated the first half, creating numerous openings and opportunities, but only went in a goal-up at the break – it almost came back to haunt them, as they needed a last-minute Jesus strike to get the win.

The same can be said against Bournemouth last week, where the hosts were still in the game with 20 minutes remaining despite both Sterling and Sane getting into good positions and going close, before Aguero sealed the win.

That may not happen against the better sides in the league, who will take advantage should City not get the goals their play warrants – if they can start to do so, they will take some stopping between now and May.

Find a role for Aguero

Jesus’ injury against Bournemouth looks set to rule him out until the end of the season, which means that the recently-benched Sergio Aguero will surely return to the starting line-up.

However, it seems unlikely that City will be able to play in the same way with Aguero leading the line instead of Jesus, given that the Brazilian international is more willing to close down defenders and work hard from the front.

That is what Guardiola wants from his forwards, hence Jesus has had the starting berth in the last few weeks instead of a player who has scored 113 goals in just 169 Premier League appearances.

Thus, this leaves Guardiola in a quandary as to what to do with Aguero, does he play him and risk losing some of that intensity which has worked so well in recent times, or does he continue to bench him and perhaps play a ‘false 9’, potentially Kevin De Bruyne?

Ultimately, Guardiola has to find a role for the Argentine international, who clearly doesn’t give to the team what the City boss wants, yet remains one of the greatest strikers the Premier League has ever seen.