Keeping Erling Halaand, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki quiet will have headlined Nuno’s pre-match West Ham United briefings, but stopping Rodri may be the key to disrupting Pep Guardiola’s rhythm.
Former Bournemouth talisman Semenyo has made an outstanding start at Man City. Cherki’s influence has waned in recent Premier League outings, though, while the usually irrepressible Erling Haaland heads to the London Stadium in dreadful form.
Furthermore, just three days after Real Madrid tore Manchester City apart at the Santiago Bernabeu, there is a feeling that West Ham United might be hosting Guardiola and co at a pretty good time; fatigue and dented confidence hopefully combating any ‘wounded beast’ narratives.
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Three at the back? Another start for Kante and Pablo?
West Ham v Man City perfect line-up
Rodri’s difficult season continued in the Spanish capital; the former Ballon D’Or winner again pale imitation of his pre-injury best.
And Nuno Espirito Santo could do worse than to listen to what Gary Neville said back in 2024, applying such tactics to his own pre-match blueprint.
A tactic Pablo Felipe could be the key to executing.
Pablo Felipe can combat Rodri as West Ham United host Man City
Speaking before Arsenal held Haaland and co to a 0-0 draw in March 2024, Neville said on The Overlap that stopping Rodri was the key to stopping Man City at source.
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“Do you know who should be man-marked? Rodri,” Neville said. “I think someone should be on him and stopping him getting the ball.
“Rodri, I think, if you stop him at City… I’m not saying you stop everything – you don’t – but you stop a lot. If you stop Rodri, you stop a lot.
“His influence on their team is unbelievable, how he just links everything together.”
Pablo Felipe playing for West Ham against Sunderland.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Rodri is the midfield metronome which lays down the beat and maintains the rhythm. Until quite recently, a pillar of consistency. Introducing Pablo Felipe for his first Premier League start since late-January then, could be Nuno’s way of throwing a proverbial spanner into the works. A dash of chaos amid the usual City control.
As many of Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users pointed out, Pablo could have a big role to play for West Ham against their title-chasing opponents. While yet to open his account since that £18 million move from Gil Vicente, Pablo’s defensive qualities have shone through.
A centre-forward who has actually been more effective out of possession in a claret and blue shirt.
Ally gets it 😎 Where should Pablo Felipe play for West Ham – as a No.9 or a No.10?
A graphic showing Ally McCoist's quotes on Pablo Felipe during West Ham's FA Cup game against Brentford reading: "He's one these guys that the fans will enjoy watching because he's all effort."
Credit; Getty Images/Ben STANSALL / AFP
Pablo was excellent up against Moises Caicedo at Chelsea
It is no coincidence that West Ham collapsed at Chelsea when Pablo was replaced by Max Kilman. Nuno himself even accepted this was a ‘mistake’. Pablo had done a terrific off-the-ball job on Chelsea’s midfield duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
Despite playing in attack, and despite being taken off on the 65th minute mark, Pablo ended the match with the joint-most tackles of any West Ham player.
Guardiola admits Man City were taken aback by Real Madrid’s tactics at the Bernabeu. Former West Ham defender Alvaro Arbeloa instructed his team to let City have the ball, while sitting back in a low-block and bursting forward quickly on the counter-attack.
Instructing Mateus Fernandes, Tomas Soucek or whoever starts in midfield to push up and press Rodri, City’s deep-lying playmaker, would risk leaving spaces in behind for Semenyo, Cherki and co to drift into.
But start Pablo, position him right on Rodri’s shoulder like a shadow, and West Ham should keep their defensive shape while also ensuring City are not gifted the freedom of the park.
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