Could Pep Guardiola tweak his midfield to take on Tottenham today? | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur today in a crucial Premier League match. City need a win to continue to build momentum and keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. Looking at today’s match, there are a host of areas that could decide today’s match. One such area is the midfield battle. Tottenham’s midfield is filled with players who thrive in duels and in the physical side of playing in midfield. One question for me is: Will Pep Guardiola tweak his midfield to combat what Thomas Frank’s side offers in midfield?

Tottenham’s midfield is filled with players who thrive in a duel and the physical side of playing in midfield.

A look at the Tottenham squad shows that they have a midfield filled with players who are strong in a duel, ans thrive in the physical side of the game. Thomas Frank has Joao Pahlinha, Conor Gallagher, Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray and Pape Sarr to call upon in midfield. Ahead of them, Xavi Simons could potentially play as a number ten. Spurs’ midfield is built around players who will do the dirty work and try to unsettle Manchester City’s midfield. That is their speciality. Also, Pahlinha, Gallagher, Bissouma, Gray and Sarr have the quality in possession to hurt Manchester City if they get their confidence up. Who Thomas Frank starts in midfield today will be interesting to see. How Pep Guardiola combats that element of Tottenham’s play will be fascinating to keep an eye on.

Could Pep Guardiola start Nico, Rodri and Bernardo Silva to combat Tottenham’s midfield?

The expectation is that Rodri and Bernardo Silva will definitely start in midfield for Manchester City today. Bernardo Silva is a lock to play in midfield. Manchester City’s captain will be up for the fight as always. That is a certainty. Rodri should return after missing Manchester City’s win over Galatasaray due to suspension. The Spanish international is regaining his form and fitness, and he will have a vital role to play in midfield if he starts as expected. Who starts with them looks to be a choice between Nico, Phil Foden, and Tijjani Reijnders. I expect Rayan Cherki to start on the right and drift centrally. For me, there is a strong case to start Nico with Bernardo and Rodri to add steel to Manchester City’s midfield.

Nico has previously played as a number eight in midfield, specifically during his time at FC Porto. This season, the Spanish midfielder has primarily been deployed as a number six by Pep Guardiola. However, he is capable of playing in a more advanced role when Manchester City has possession today. Out of possession, Nico is strong in duels and wins his fair share of them. By putting him, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri in midfield, one senses that City could challenge the Tottenham midfield in an area of the game they thrive in. The only concern regarding Nico is whether he is fit enough to start after just returning from injury.

Final thoughts.

The midfield battle could well decide today’s match. Tottenham have a combative midfield, and how Pep Guardiola sets his team up will be well worth keeping an eye on ahead of kickoff. I feel that there is a case to start Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Nico in midfield today to give City enough bite to get at Thomas Frank’s side. It could perhaps turn a perceived strength of Tottenham’s into a weakness if that is how Pep Guardiola sets up his midfield.