YES HE IS BACK.

Top stories today:

1. Everton game review with the toffees crunched

2. Champions League awaits City midweek vs Copenhagen

3. Sergio Aguero providing some City insights with a podcast

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0. Standings, Fixtures and Statistics

1. Everton Game Review

MOTM: Erling Haaland

Other standout performances include Jeremy Doku, John Stones & Phil Foden.

Main Takeaways

• Very much a game of two halves that had all of us frustrated after the first. Pep trying out something new with the starting line this time around whilst rotating the team left a lot to be desired going forward. Defensively, pressing and dealing with attacks the team did well. Shut Everton down and consistently found an outlet in Doku. That’s as far as they got. Hence the frustration.

• Credit to Sean Dyche and Everton setting up very well, difficult to deal with through midfield pressing City. Sharp at the back and aggressive. Jarred Branthwaite looked very good, a defender City should have on their list for transfers.

• Nunes leaving a lot to be desired when in tight spaces unable to run. Losing the ball or holding onto it too much.

• Alvarez performance in line with his struggles this season in midfield, poor touch and aggressive in the wrong moments.

• Doku doing very well as an outlet, getting through the left wing to create. Worked much harder off the ball and winning back possession since the Spurs game. Struggle was the final ball or when he need to release the ball quickly after 1-2 touches. If he finds that, he will become one of the best wingers in the world.

• Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland, difference makers as Pep has said many times.

• Phil Foden doing what he has done all season, a complete game now on and off the ball. He will be in the middle soon, for now he just has to be in the team each week and that’s why Pep is finding whatever way he can to do it.

• Great to see a clean sheet, result of Stones and Dias working very well together. Stones a calming influence at the back and very tidy on the ball. Ederson included, hitting all his passes and sweeping up quickly.

• Walker was great when he came on, found the form we all knew was there.

Let us know your thoughts on the match in the comments below.

2. Champions League Preview

City breezed through the group stages of the Champions League but now the knockout stages begin and pose a different threat among a crowded fixture list. Copenhagen capitalized on Man United’s continuing trend of disappointing performances to take the second spot in Group A.

Injuries of Note

• Manchester City have a fully fit squad. All available for selection.

• Lerager is suspended for the first leg. Khocholava and Sanders are both out injured. Birger Meling is a double with muscular injury.

Thoughts on the game

• Now with fixtures starting to pile up we should expect to see rotation in certain positions. Not wholesale changes. Chelsea at home the next Premier League game on Saturday before Tuesday playing Brentford. A few players won’t manage to do them all back-to-back.

• Expect this is the game Grealish get’s his chance to work himself into the team. Away game with space for him to work. Pep mentioning previously that he needs to step up in training and on the pitch. Keeping Doku fresh for Saturday.

• Oscar Bobb has impressed in the Champions League and I think this is a game he gives Foden a rest. Only Walker has played more minutes than him this season. Bobb is excellent in small spaces, that skill we will need without Foden and in a game that will suit him.

• Gvardiol to come in after being rested at the weekend. Seems to be the nailed on number one option for LB now this season.

• Akanji played 60 minutes against Everton, guessing he gets a full 90 under his belt on Tuesday night. Having him ready for the games ahead, get sharper and give Stones a rest who seems to be kept on one game a week for now.

• KDB, Bernardo, Walker and Dias getting full or partial rests against Everton to come back to the starting line up.

• Haaland I see playing majority of the games for the rest of the season now fit. Alvarez to play alongside him or come off the bench now onward.

• Important that we get the tie as close to wrapped up in this game, the home leg will be between a Manchester derby and the Liverpool away game.

One to Watch: Roony Bardghji

Very talented right winger (18) who caused Manchester United many problems in the group stages, including a game winner. Tricky, sharp on the ball and fast. Will give Gvardiol a tough match.

Predicted Lineup: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, KDB, Bernardo, Grealish, Bobb, Haaland

Score Prediction: FC Copenhagen 0 - 2 Manchester City FC

Let us know what you think the score will be in the comments below.

3. Sergio Aguero Podcast Takeaways

Every City fan needs to read this thread from the podcast Sergio Aguero did with ‘Clank!’ on his relationship with Pep Guardiola. 👇

Thoughts

• You could see from day 1 there was a tension there between those two and to have it explained by him so clearly is great. Shows just how well he has reflected on his time at City. Can disagree with Pep but also understand his point of view.

• Shows a lot about them both that they worked to find the best solution. Pep won’t waver on his pressing principle but will adapt the way it is used to fit his players best. Aguero open to and determined to find the best solution.

• Jesus arrival and it’s impact in the short term with his reduced minutes only improved his from long term. Incredible season followed.

• Reminder that coaching and developing teams takes place over the long term, so a player may struggle to learn a new system in one game but over a season it can all come together. Reminds me of Akanji learning the Stones role of stepping into midfield, first game had plenty of fans concerned but after a few months he began to look very sharp there.

Let us know what you thought about this interview, the thread and takeaways from it.

4. Interesting News & Links

• Opta analyst article on Phil Foden here.

• Erling Haaland continues to lead the way in the Premier League at the top scorer and even ahead of all timers for goals per game.

• Great Comp of Erling Haaland.

• Excellent Thread by 4lex on Manchester City this season possibly struggling at home.

• Maximo Perrone is a player we have mentioned in a previous newsletter not to be slept on.

• Manchester City third kit 24/25 to take inspiration from their 2012/13 away kit.

• The KDB - Haaland partnership is back.

That’s all for this weeks newsletter, getting the win against Everton that last season we struggled with and now head into our Champions League tie with momentum behind us.

Let us know what you thought about the game in the comments below and if you haven’t already then subscribe to the newsletter. Free and focused on all things Manchester City FC.

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