Champions League quarterfinal power rankings: Real, Bayern lead the way
By James Dudko
5. Manchester City
City are the relentless pacesetters in England’s top flight, but Pep Guardiola’s squad may still be a year away from winning Europe’s biggest prize.
There are doubts about the defensive resolve of this team. Those doubts were exploited by Basel, who Shocked the Citizens 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium last time out.
Granted, City probably struggled to find the ideal approach to the second leg, given their 4-0 aggregate lead from the first encounter. However, their off night at home hinted at the soft underbelly of a side more fluent than most in possession, but less than dominant at the back.
The question marks about the City defence are understandable given Guardiola’s options at center-back. Skipper Vincent Kompany is the type of on-pitch general every team would love to have, but the 31-year-old is also ultra-brittle and needs his fitness carefully managed.
Nicolas Otamendi has improved considerably during Guardiola’s second season in charge. Even so, the Argentinian can still be guilty of a rash challenge, as well as lacking pace and agility on the turn.
John Stones and January arrival Aymeric Laporte are both highly capable on the ball, but can also be bullied by savvy strikers.
City’s best bet to get past the competition’s big boys is to lean on their gifted platoon of playmakers in midfield. David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan all treat the ball with the care of a Mother Hen.
This quartet has plenty of pace to aim for thanks to wide forwards Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane. But the fitness of rabid goal-getter Sergio Aguero will be key, with the No. 10 set to miss “approximately two weeks” due to a knee problem, per Richard Fay of the Manchester Evening News.
If the Citizens can keep their veteran spine of Kompany, David Silva and Aguero fresh for Europe, they have a chance to win this prize ahead of schedule.