Pep Guardiola will be keen to put an end to his barren run of games off late as Manchester City visit West Brom on Saturday.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s struggles off-late has already led to some berating the manager and the club’s chances at success this season. While the problems were never significantly bad at the club, it was as Luis Enrique implied a small problem blown out of proportion. Granted, the Spaniard has never gone six games winless at any of his previous clubs, but that by no means tarnishes his underlying credentials.
That said, the Spaniard will have sights set on nothing short of three points at the Hawthorns on Saturday as they look to secure their first victory in over a month. Hence the potential return of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany from their brief injury lay-offs will prove to be a massive boost for Guardiola.
However, their participation is subject to them passing their fitness tests prior to the game as City cannot afford to risk the players ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against Barcelona in three days time. Having started on the bench in the last couple of games, Sergio Aguero is expected to start for the Citizens in a bid to add more firepower to an attack that is lacking sting and failing to make their numerous chances count.
The Argentine himself hasn’t been in the best of forms off-late and will be raring to return to full-form on Saturday against a West Brom side who are no strangers to the 28-year-old’s brilliance. In eight appearances against the Baggies, Aguero has scored 5 goals while only one of them has come at the Hawthorns and there is every chance that number increases over the weekend.
There are no further injury worries plaguing Manchester City and any changes made to the usual starting XI will be done with the Barcelona game in mind. With 4 points from their opening three games, Guardiola’s side will try to avoid leaving it till late to secure qualification with Borussia Monchengladbach hot on their heels in the group.
Pep Guardiola will be keen to put an end to his barren run of games off late as Manchester City visit West Brom on Saturday.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s struggles off-late has already led to some berating the manager and the club’s chances at success this season. While the problems were never significantly bad at the club, it was as Luis Enrique implied a small problem blown out of proportion. Granted, the Spaniard has never gone six games winless at any of his previous clubs, but that by no means tarnishes his underlying credentials.
That said, the Spaniard will have sights set on nothing short of three points at the Hawthorns on Saturday as they look to secure their first victory in over a month. Hence the potential return of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany from their brief injury lay-offs will prove to be a massive boost for Guardiola.
However, their participation is subject to them passing their fitness tests prior to the game as City cannot afford to risk the players ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against Barcelona in three days time. Having started on the bench in the last couple of games, Sergio Aguero is expected to start for the Citizens in a bid to add more firepower to an attack that is lacking sting and failing to make their numerous chances count.
The Argentine himself hasn’t been in the best of forms off-late and will be raring to return to full-form on Saturday against a West Brom side who are no strangers to the 28-year-old’s brilliance. In eight appearances against the Baggies, Aguero has scored 5 goals while only one of them has come at the Hawthorns and there is every chance that number increases over the weekend.
There are no further injury worries plaguing Manchester City and any changes made to the usual starting XI will be done with the Barcelona game in mind. With 4 points from their opening three games, Guardiola’s side will try to avoid leaving it till late to secure qualification with Borussia Monchengladbach hot on their heels in the group.