Why A Rare Seven Day Break Has Come At The Perfect Time For Manchester City

Why A Rare Seven Day Break Has Come At The Perfect Time For Manchester City
14:17, 07 Feb 2018

Given the comments from some of the players, it seems the seven day break between games for Manchester City could not have come at a better time.

For the first time since August (not including international breaks) City’s players will have a full week of recovery ahead of their Saturday evening game at home to Leicester City and Pep Guardiola will be hoping his side come back refreshed.

Despite the 1-1 draw at Burnley coming as a disappointment, the only thing missing at Turf Moor was City being their usual clinical selves.

Chances were still created and they could have won the game at a canter. Hardly cause for alarm.

The furore and faux outrage at Pep naming six substitutes only added to the hysteria among fans and pundits alike that City had dropped two points but that was to be expected.

Such is the standard City have set this season that the slightest hint of an issue is suddenly the main issue of the whole weekend. Even Sunday Supplement made it a priority. End of conversation.

While City’s players welcomed the break they have been given this week, it would be naïve to take it as assign they are burnt out.

In fact, City skipper Vincent Kompany, who was excellent against the Clarets, may have hit the nail on the head when he said that following the draw City ‘can almost afford to have a little bit of a learning sting.’

Leicester have caused problems for this City side in the past but it is likely that following their break City’s players will come back raring to go which could be ominous for the foxes.

With Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy and Leroy Sane well on the way to recovery there are positives on the horizon for Guardiola, but it is likely to be a similar line-up that faced Burnley that will turn out at The Etihad this weekend.

The biggest conundrum will be at the back where new signing Aymeric Laporte and fit-again John Stones could come in for Vincent Kompany, despite the City skipper’s performance at Burnley.

Danilo had his best game at left back in a City shirt but Guardiola is likely to opt for youngster Oleks Zinchencko to add more attacking prowess and natural width, especially at home.

 

City will not be taking the threat posed by a rejuvenated Leicester side lightly but Guardiola’s charges will be smarting from conceding late on at Turf Moor and desperate to get back to winning ways. Pep will demand it.

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