Who starts at right-back against Nottingham Forest will be a tough decision for Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

You do feel that Manchester City’s crucial Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground will be won by the team that can impose their style on the opponent. It is a fair assumption to assume that Pep Guardiola’s side will look to control Saturday’s match. You’d also expect Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to keep it tight at the back and look to hit City on the break. Forest’s pace and power up front do appear to be their trump card. On that front, you do feel that who Pep Guardiola starts at right-back may well hint at Manchester City’s approach at the City Ground.

There appear to be two contenders to start at right-back for Manchester City on Saturday. They are Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis. We have seen Abdukodir Khusanov play at right-back against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. But you do feel that he will partner Ruben Dias in the centre of City’s defence against Forest. Vitor Reis could also play the position but that isn’t a move that appears to be on the cards just yet. That leaves Matheus Nunes or Rico Lewis for the position. There is a case both for and against either player starting against Nottingham Forest. But whichever player starts they will have a crucial role to play in the crucial Premier League fixture.

Rico Lewis

We saw Rico Lewis start at right-back during Manchester City’s recent 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle. We know what Lewis will bring to the position if he starts against Nottingham Forest. Typically in possession, he will drift into midfield to give Pep Guardiola the control he craves in matches. If he starts at the City Ground you’d expect him to play that role once again. There is merit to it as if City control proceedings against Forest may help them contain the threat of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. But it does come with a risk.

If Manchester City give away possession Lewis’s positioning can leave City’s defence exposed. That could prove to be especially dangerous against the pace of Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi. But it may be a case of risk versus reward for Pep Guardiola on Saturday. If Lewis starts we know what he will offer. But you can also see how that may play into Forest’s hands if it doesn’t go according to plan.

Matheus Nunes

The other option for Pep Guardiola to employ at right-back is Matheus Nunes. He has the pace to defend either Hudson-Odoi or Elanga. But he isn’t a right-back by trade. There is also a rashness to Nunes’ play which has cost Pep Guardiola’s side at times this season. But to his credit, he has improved that side of his play recently.

But Matheus Nunes does offer a threat going forward. As we saw during Manchester City’s 1-nil win over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his link-up play with Savinho did open up Spurs’ defence. That especially stood out during the first half of that particular match. It could be something that Pep Guardiola looks to deploy against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. There is also a risk versus reward in picking Matheus Nunes at right-back against Forest. But it’s a different scenario to that of Rico Lewis.

Summary.

There is a case both for and against either Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes starting against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Either player brings their own strengths to the position but also their own frailties. Whichever player Guardiola picks at right-back will have an important role to play. You do feel that whoever it is must be at their best to help City pick up a crucial victory on Saturday.