Pep Guardiola must have wanted to play a few fringe players in Saturday’s Manchester derby, but those hopes are up in the air following what was comfortably City’s worst performance of the season.
As the dust settles, a sense of perspective is needed and while most City fans (me included) will have convinced themselves the Citizens have a chance come Tuesday evening in the return leg, the reality is it is unlikely.
But onwards and upwards as they say and what better way to bounce back than by winning the league against that lot from Stretford.
United will be a very different proposition to Liverpool and everybody knows how this one will pan out.
Despite his words in the build-up Jose Mourinho will be desperate not to let City win this one and will hope to compound a bad week for the blues by making them hang on for the title.
Park the bus will ring loud and true but City must get through a stubborn backline and top goalkeeper if they want to win this one.
After Pep’s failed attempt to stifle Liverpool by shoe-horning another midfielder into the line-up one would expect City to revert to type with Sterling returning to the starting eleven.
Width could be a key factor if City are to stretch United enough to be able to pull them out of what will be a very tight bank of two lines with a lone striker trying to effect a counter attack where possible.
There may well be a couple of unexpected names that feature but it would seem unthinkable for Pep to play a second string following such a disappointing defeat.
The fans and players will demand a response and a title win against United would bring back the perspective lost in such a stinging defeat.
John Stones may well replace Vincent Kompany or Nicolas Otamendi at centre-back, while Fabian Delph is likely to return in the left back spot.
Sergio Aguero could well start following injury which will be another welcome tonic to the team and City fans.
Anything other than a win on Saturday could well sour the mood at City which would be a travesty given how good they have been all season.
It will hopefully be a blue moon on Saturday evening.
