Manchester City Predicted Starting XI: We predict City’s Pep Guardiola’s starting team to face Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday
Pep Guaridola hasn't been vocal about potential summer signings.
Manchester City and Aston Villa will battle it out for the first honours of the season on Sunday, as they go head-to in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
City have been no strangers to silverware in recent years, and Guardiola and his side will be very keen to gain a trophy given Liverpool all-but confirmed this season’s Premier League winners.
Despite their opponents league position, it will not be a straightforward day for the Citizens, Villa will certainly put up a fight and won’t be afraid to attack Man City’s frail injury-hit defence.
So which players will be tasked with the challenge of overcoming Aston Villa tomorrow? Here we predict Guardiola’s XI…
Goalkeeper: Guardiola has promised to select Claudio Bravo in goal for Sunday’s final, given the Spaniard has played all City’s League cup ties this season. Emerson is obviously first choice, but Bravo will get his chance.
Defenders: With the devastating news that France international Aymeric Laporte is out injured for another month having only just returned, Guardiola has a decision to make in the centre back positions. We think he’ll go for Nicolas Otamendi alongside makeshift centre back Fernandinho, leaving John Stones on the bench. Kyle Walker will play right back and we think Oleksandr Zinchenko will get the nod on the left.
Midfielders: Although City are there to win, we do think Guardiola will make some changes, to reward the players that go hit to the final. Therefore, we think the Spaniard will choose a midfield three of Rodri, the undroppable Kevin De Bruyne and youngster Phil Foden will start, which could be seen as the biggest game of his young career.
Forwards: Despite being dropped for City’s impressive win away at Real Madrid in the Champions League midweek, we think Guardiola will start City legend Sergio Aguero ahead of Gabriel Jesus. With the same sentiment in mind, David Silva will get the nod alongside Raheem Sterling completing the front three.
Predicted XI: Bravo, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Foden, Silva, Sterling, Aguero