Guardiola Eyes Changes to Revive Manchester City Ahead of Feyenoord Clash
Pep Guardiola faces a critical challenge as Manchester City host Feyenoord in the Champions League, aiming to snap a five-game losing streak. The slump, capped by a crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham, has raised questions about form and fitness within the squad.
Despite the pressure, Guardiola remains steadfast in his philosophy. Asked about altering his approach, he responded: “What should I change? What should I change? If I had changed in my first season when I was asked to change, we would not have won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Now I’m not going to change. We are big believers in the process and the fundamentals we have to do.”
The City boss stressed the importance of getting players back to full fitness and rested, while suggesting that one positive result could shift the team’s mentality: “Injured players have to come back to their best form, players who have played a lot of minutes because of the injuries need rest, one good result can change our mind.”
Team News and Possible Changes
Kevin De Bruyne, who returned from injury to feature as a substitute against Spurs, is expected to start. Jeremy Doku could also feature, possibly at the expense of Savinho. Meanwhile, Nathan Ake is pushing for a spot in defense, which might see John Stones step aside. Matheus Nunes could replace Rico Lewis in midfield after the latter’s struggles in recent games.
City’s injury issues persist, with Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Mateo Kovacic still unavailable. There are also doubts over the fitness of Jeremy Doku and Ruben Dias, but Guardiola will hope for clarity before the match.
Predicted Starting XI
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Nunes, Gundogan; Doku, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.
Match Details
- Venue: Etihad Stadium
- Time and Date: 8 PM GMT, Tuesday, November 26, 2024
- TV Channel and Live Stream: Amazon Prime
City will need a strong performance to regain confidence and momentum in the Champions League’s new League Phase. Another defeat could deepen their woes ahead of a crucial Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
