Is the second leg against Real Madrid the right time for Manchester City to look ahead? | OneFootball

Manchester City do not have time to dwell on their 1-1 draw with West Ham and what it could mean for their chances to win this season’s Premier League title. Pep Guardiola’s side face Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday evening. City will be looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit after their disastrous defeat at the Bernabeu last week.

Manchester City face an uphill battle to get themselves back into the tie. Looking at how City may line up at the Etihad, is it time for Pep Guardiola to give an opportunity to players who will have to contend with these situations in the future without Bernardo Silva and company? It may be worth a shot to prepare this City side for the future.

Manchester City could benefit from throwing their squad players into the gauntlet.

Manchester City’s Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid isn’t over. Yes, Pep Guardiola’s side have to overcome a 3-0 deficit against a team that are the masters of the Champions League. That is no easy task. But at the Etihad Stadium anything is possible for Pep Guardiola’s side. While the challenge is difficult, perhaps it is time for Pep Guardiola to give players a start who do figure to be prominent players in Manchester City’s future.

With Manchester City having the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on the horizon, it may be time to save Rodri and Bernardo Silva for the Wembley showpiece. That way, Nico can start in midfield and be given the responsibility of dictating Tuesday night’s match for his team. Tijjani Reijnders could support him in a deeper role in midfield. The way that Champions League matches are played may suit Reijnders playing in a deeper midfield role. Also, City need goals, and Reijnders can add that threat from midfield. Nico O’Reilly could also be given an opportunity to start in midfield. If he is saved for the Carabao Cup final, starting Phil Foden is also an idea. Foden desperately needs to find form. The challenge of leading his team on a famous comeback could spark Foden back to life.

There are options for Pep Guardiola to explore against Real Madrid. It may be time to try them at the Etihad. This City side is building for the future. A big match, while facing adversity, could be the ideal setting to give more responsibility to other players in the Manchester City squad. The lineup below may be one that City could utilize against Real Madrid.

Giving Bernardo Silva and Rodri a rest for the Carabao Cup final may be a wise move.

There is another side to the coin of Pep Guardiola giving Manchester City’s squad players an opportunity to start against Real Madrid. That is that Bernardo Silva and Rodri could be rested for the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. The Carabao Cup final is an opportunity for City to win silverware. It is also an opportunity for this Manchester City side to learn how to win trophies. I expect Pep Guardiola to pick as close to his best lineup as possible at Wembley. Resting Bernardo Silva and Rodri from the starting lineup against Real Madrid may be a wise move. That way the pair can be full of energy for the Cup final. The same can be said for Antoine Semenyo and any other player who has carried a heavy workload recently.

How Manchester City line up against Real Madrid isn’t immediately clear. The day is coming that City will have to approach big Champions League fixtures without Bernardo Silva. Tuesday night’s Round of 16 second leg tie at the Etihad may be the time for Pep Guardiola to look at this. Also, Bernardo Silva and Rodri could be saved for the Carabao Cup final.

If Pep Guardiola went down that route, it wouldn’t be throwing in the towel. It would be giving City’s squad players an opportunity to make an impact. It’s is an option worth considering, if nothing else. City have a mountain to climb against Real Madrid. Perhaps it is time for City’s squad players to embark on that climb. That way, they can prove they’re capable of performing without Rodri and Bernardo Silva bedding everything together.