Manchester City take on Al Ain next time out at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s men were 2-0 winners over Wydad AC on Wednesday in their Group G opener, courtesy of a Man of the Match performance from Phil Foden.
After the contest with the Moroccan side, the legendary coach stated that he will make several changes to his Man City side for the Al Ain game, as the Spaniard wants everyone to get minutes during the group stage of the Club World Cup.
“Many players, we need to give them minutes, otherwise if they come back from a long injury and don’t play, they’ll never get it,” Guardiola said. “Next game, ten new players will be there to try and win the next one.”
As a result, Man City will look closer to their strongest team when facing Al Ain and here is the predicted XI Manchester City News thinks will play against the Abu Dhabi-based club.
Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City v Wydad.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Manchester City team news vs Al Ain
Man City travelled to the United States without Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker, with the two senior figures the most notable exclusions from Guardiola’s squad.
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Mateo Kovacic was also missing on the plane as the Croatian star recently had surgery on an Achilles injury, which has worked out well for the midfielder, who will want to be fit in time for the Premier League getting back underway in August.
As for the stars that have travelled with Man City to the United States, there is still some doubt about the fitness of John Stones, who ended last season with a thigh injury. The Englishman has returned to full team training but did not feature against Wydad.
Guardiola will also be without Rico Lewis for the Al Ain match after the right-back received a controversial red card against the Moroccan club and now has to serve a one-match ban.
Rayan Cherki set to drop to the Man City bench as Pep Guardiola set to fulfil 10 changes promise
Man City fans can expect Guardiola to make 10 changes against Al Ain, with the first coming in the goalkeeper position as Ederson will drop out for Stefan Ortega.
Guardiola planned to use Matheus Nunes at right-back for the Club World Cup, and the Portuguese star will operate in the role against Al Ain, with Man City fans getting their first glimpse of Rayan Ait-Nouri in a sky blue shirt at left-back.
Man City are likely to go with their best centre-back pairing of Ruben Dias and Man City’s 2024/25 Player of the Season Josko Gvardiol on Sunday night in America, having ended last season in top form, although Abdukodir Khusanov could be in contention to start.
Man City's predicted 11 for their match with Al Ain.
Man City predicted 11 vs Al Ain.
Rodri is set for his first start in a Man City shirt since his return from a serious knee injury against Al Ain, with the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner set to be partnered in midfield by Ilkay Gundogan.
Ahead of the duo, new Man City captain Bernardo Silva is likely to start on the right with Omar Marmoush to operate on the left-hand side as the only player from the Wydad match to keep his place in Guardiola’s team.
Nedum Onuoha stated this week that Man City could have “one of the best attacking talents in European football” on their hands in Rayan Cherki; however, the French star is set to drop to the bench with Oscar Bobb getting a chance to prove himself.
Erling Haaland missed a golden chance against Wydad on Wednesday, and the Norwegian will be looking to make up for that when he returns to the starting 11 on Sunday night in Atlanta.
Manchester City predicted starting XI vs Al Ain (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, Bobb, Marmoush; Haaland.