Before Sporting. Following the prescription

A genuine chance to atone in front of the frustrated home crowd.

As expected, City have absolutely leathered Chelsea, leaving not a shadow of a doubt they are truly up for this title tilt. It’s happened a fair few times now, and it’s crystal clear they get a massive confidence boost the second they see us shit our pants. It wasn’t just the scoreline; the analytics tell the story of a City absolutely dominating the match and having a proper go at Chelsea. A fighting spirit that was not just lacking, but completely absent from our recent miserable outing against Bournemouth.

I deliberately avoided watching the game. I’ve seen this movie too many times before and simply didn’t need to subject myself to the same level of crushing frustration. The only route I see to City dropping points is if we are still mathematically level and they play first. Whenever they get a whiff of our recent struggles and failures, they won’t let up—Guardiola has the knack of spinning our misfortune into a brilliant performance from his lads.

That’s something our gaffer can’t seem to manage with the same effectiveness. He can’t keep broadcasting the same worn-out messages about “journey” and “history” again and again; it only works so many times. Sometimes, you just need to focus on simply besting the opposition you are facing and getting back to the fundamentals of the beautiful game.

The biggest question bubbling up online regarding the Sporting tie is simple: what’s should be the approach to player selection? Do we prioritise the big clash at the Etihad at all costs and rest a few key lads? Or do we flog the same horses two times a week to grind out a result?

My strong conviction is that we simply must prioritise winning the Sporting fixture and sending out a starting XI that screams it. There are two possible mindsets with which we can roll up to the Etihad. The first scenario sees us as Champions League semi-finalists (a feat City haven’t managed for two years), meaning that even if we take a beating there, we still have the biggest prize in European football to go for. The second leaves us with only the Premier League, with the possibility of having tossed away all our chances in four competitions in the space of four miserable weeks. Guess which state of mind will be easier for the players, and which won’t see them completely lose the plot? The answer is obvious: we need to focus solely on the Sporting game, because, let’s be honest, only a home win gives us a prayer of getting anything at the Etihad.

Naturally, this doesn’t mean we should be throwing in players who are only just back from the treatment table. Saka, Timber, Calafiori, and Odegaard should all start among the substitutes, if they are deemed fit. Potentially Hincapie and Eze, too, because, and let’s be frank, Eberechi didn’t look particularly ready on Saturday.

The starting eleven should be similar to the last couple of games, save for a few significant tweaks. Mosquera should certainly come in for White, who hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory recently, either defensively or in the build-up play. Zubimendi simply has to sit this one out; throwing him straight in from the off would be outright idiotic. It’s clear as day that Arteta wouldn’t risk Norgaard at the Etihad, so making Zubimendi clock more minutes and expecting a different outcome would be… well, I think I’ve made my point. Therefore, Norgaard must be paired alongside Rice in the heart of the engine room.

I fully expect Gyokeres and Martinelli to get the nod, as they’ve been decent in Europe and, let’s be frank, they will be useless against City. Unless we need to bag a penalty, Gyokeres is not going to help us. His displays against the top half have been barren all season, and it would be pure naivety to think the Etihad clash will be any different.

Which leaves us with the right winger and the number 10 position. I wouldn’t feature Eze from the start (saving him for a second-half introduction), but I would absolutely throw Max Dowman in for one of those two attacking berths. Havertz playing as the attacking midfielder has resulted in three defeats on the row, so I absolutely do not want to see that experiment repeated. Furthermore, we will need him as a proper number 9 against City, given his ability to hold up the play well up top.

With such a dearth of fit attacking options, we are left with two options: Dowman in the number 10 role with Madueke out on the right (and the faintest hope that he might actually turn up this time). Or, Dowman on the right flank, and in the attacking midfield role, none other than… Leo Trossard. Now, just hear me out: Sporting are almost certain to replicate the tactical masterplan Guardiola used to choke us at Wembley, which Iraola copied just two days ago. They will press our second line of build-up with four men, leaving the key trio of Gabriel, Saliba, and Raya to essentially play with themselves.

To properly break that pattern, we need a number 10 capable of turning sharply with the ball under pressure deep in midfield, potentially swapping with Rice, who can take a longer pass from Raya and hold the ball. In terms of sheer skill (and specifically, the ability to turn quickly and dictate play), Trossard is the closest match we have to Eze and I don’t believe it’s right to pile the pressure on the 16-year-old with the task of beating the opposition press. Last season, when Odegaard was sidelined, Trossard was used in that position with some degree of success. I know Trossard has been utterly rubbish for weeks, if not months, but maybe the Champions League anthem will inspire him for one last passionate dance.

Sporting will definitely turn up for a fight—a semi-final could define their entire season, and we haven’t forgotten them knocking us out of the Europa League four years back. It won’t be a walk in the park. It’s still going to be the same fine-margin, turgid football, full of physical battles and cagey duels. We are still going to measure in the lab and microdose any risky play and chance creation following strict prescriptions from Doctor Mikel.

But at least I hope that the mentality factor is not going to affect us much and the nerves are going to be under control. To be honest, the pressure in the Champions League doesn’t feel quite as suffocating. We’ve never won the bloody thing, even in our strongest years, so there’s no real shame or room for mockery if we fall short. We’ve only reached the semis three times in our history, so the lads have no reason to play with the handbrake on.

I don’t reckon this side, in its current state, has what it takes to win the final. Any team emerging from the tougher side of the bracket won’t be losing sleep over Arsenal after what they’ve been through. That said, if Atleti can do Barcelona, we’ve got a fighting chance of wrestling our way through to the final. Simeone’s lot aren’t exactly known for scrupulous attack build-up against a well-drilled unit, either. It could become our only second final in history, but to get there we need to outwrestle the Portuguese first.