Pep Guardiola has admitted he has ‘doubts’ about his Manchester City team selection for Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United.
“I am impressed how good we trained the last few days after a few days off,” the City boss said on the team’s build-up. “People are so focused and everyone will be part of it and we will do our best, that’s for sure. Try to decide a few things and I have doubts in the line-up and go.”
What exactly Guardiola has doubts about are unclear, especially given he made just four changes across the last three Premier League games, with one of those the enforced introduction of Ederson, who is City’s only absentee this weekend at Wembley.
Having identified a relatively settled XI in recent weeks, it appears unlikely that the likes of John Stones, Rico Lewis and Julian Alvarez will start. Jack Grealish also didn’t start the last four league games but, given his ability to help City control games, it feels like a match the former Aston Villa star could return in.
Otherwise, Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku are the other options for Guardiola heading into the final. The latter played a starring role in last week’s win over West Ham United, but he might be dropped given his direct dribbling might not be the best approach for a final.
Kovacic had started five of six before the last league match of the season, but was dropped in place of Doku last week. So, Kovacic, Grealish or Doku, who will Guardiola select? Here’s how we expect the Blues to line up against United…
1. GK: Stefan Ortega
WIth Ederson out, the German stopper is in line to start, although as cup keeper he would likely have played regardless.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Spoke in the build-up to the game about the 'pendulum swinging' in terms of where the power currently lies in Manchester.
3. CB: Ruben Dias
Started the last three league games and looks more likely to be selected than Stones or Nathan Ake.
4. CB: Manuel Akanji
Guardiola's go-to centre-back, and the most reliable in recent weeks.