MANCHESTER CITY face Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final with a major selection headache — but it could lead to the birth of Pep Guardiola’s next great “pet project.”
With midfield general a doubt for the showpiece, the boss is weighing up a bold tactical shift that would see handed the keys to the engine room.
Pep Guardiola could make a bold tactical call against Chelsea with Rodri out Credit: PA
There is also a way stop Jeremy Doku Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
And according to SunSport’s tactics guru Dean Scoggins, this isn’t just a temporary fix.
Rather, it may be a glimpse into a future where Foden replaces the outgoing .
On the latest episode of Team Talk, Dean said: “Pep said last night he has no idea whether Rodri is going to be available in midfield.
“We saw against , a new midfield of Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
“I think, assuming Pep stays and City carry on as the way they are, that is a pointer to him trying to turn Foden into a Bernardo Silva-type player – very similar stature, very similar left-footed, great touch.
“Instead of thinking, who do we go and buy to be a Silva replacement? Have they got the perfect one right there?
“He looks fit, he looks hungry. He’s not going to struggle on that big Wembley pitch by getting up and back in that City formation.”
While critics suggest a Foden-Bernardo pivot might be too “lightweight” to handle Chelsea’s physical midfield, the stats tell a different story.
City are expected to dominate the ball against in their 4-2-4 shape, and Foden’s defensive output is rapidly improving under Guardiola’s watchful eye.
Dean said: “Foden won possession back six times against Crystal Palace.
“He has duels when he’s in the number 10 position. So why can’t he have duels when he’s in the number six position?
“Man City are going to have the ball. I’d go as far as to say 62 or 63 per cent.
“So are you going to get more joy with your ball player than you are with your combative midfield player?”
The biggest threat to Chelsea’s trophy hopes remains the “unstoppable” , especially one-on-one against a defender, but Dean insists there is a way to cage the Belgian winger.
By drawing inspiration from ‘s recent blueprint, the Blues could deploy a secret 5-3-1-1 formation to stop Doku from cutting inside.
Dean said: “If is this player here, you say to him, you’re the man who you don’t even have to mark.
Pep Guardiola has been down this road numerous times before Credit: PA
“You’re just going to be the screen while Gusto shepherds him outside.
“Keep Doku outside the line of the penalty area.
“You let him in here, you’ve got a problem.
“In short, you can stop Doku, but the answer is just to double up on him.
“The way he’s been playing this season, he’s just built a bit different to everyone else.”
Chelsea may also look to surprise City by ditching their typical build-up play for a more direct approach, matching City’s shape to bypass their high press.
Calum McFarlane could even throw a “wildcard” into the mix to rattle City’s backline.
Dean said: “What Everton changed is they stopped passing it around and just went let’s just go, match them up and go 4-2-4.
“If you take these four out of the game immediately, this structure remains and then you’re in a competition in midfield for second balls and headers.
“I think there’s one wildcard in this and that’s .
“If they’re going to smack it up to the front man, is Delap and Pedro an option?
“ has never scored at Wembley.
“The number of games City have played at Wembley and Haaland still hasn’t scored there.
“Maybe this is the weekend that Haaland breaks another of his records.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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