Real Madridvs.Man City

Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has encouraged Pep Guardiola to name the same team that thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 last weekend in Wednesday's crucial Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

The Citizens let a one-goal lead slip with just five minutes remaining to lose 3-2 against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie at the Etihad Stadium last week.

However, Guardiola's side bounced back in emphatic fashion by hitting four past an out-of-sorts Newcastle outfit in the Premier League on Saturday, with new signing Omar Marmoush stealing the headlines by netting a 14-minute first-half hat-trick.

Fellow new recruits Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and summer signing Savinho were among those who also impressed as Guardiola made a total of six changes to the side that lost the first leg against Real Madrid.

Guardiola is hopeful that both Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake will be fit to start in defence at the Santiago Bernabeu after missing the win over Newcastle, while the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes will all be pushing for a recall after beginning as substitutes.

However, McInerney is hoping that Guardiola sticks with the same youthful and energetic side that eased to victory against Newcastle, as he feels that some of City's problems that they have struggled with throughout this season could be 'solved by a different setup'.

Should Guardiola "live and die by the youthful sword" in Real Madrid clash?

"I think Man City's team against Newcastle and their team against Madrid were at such different ends of the spectrum," McInerney told Sports Mole. "Guardiola sort of went for a treble throwback (against Madrid)... It was a very treble-coded team, and ultimately, the failings of that were what you'd expect. It just wasn't quite as good as that level, the treble level.

"The players are older, the fitness issues were very evident, De Bruyne just could not keep up with the pace of the game, as much as I love him, and the injury to [Manuel] Akanji [and early withdrawal of Nathan] Ake disrupted the flow of the side. After that, City couldn't really keep it up.

"We were okay at times, but we were far too porous and the familiar failings towards the end of the game where we just couldn't keep control of it, we couldn't keep our cool, lost our heads a little bit, defensive mistakes compounded the season, they were there again. It was very frustrating, but all too familiar.

"An issue we had against Madrid is that we couldn't keep it up and we couldn't run. I guess we could against Newcastle. When it got to the 70th minute, City just doubled down and scored another goal and kept the ball, and that was such a rare sight for a City side.

"It'll be harder against Madrid, of course, at the Bernabeu, but some of those problems could be solved simply by a different setup and a different team. On paper, the team is not quite as high quality because it's younger and inexperienced, but that could be the tonic that we need.

"I'm hoping Guardiola just plays the side [that beat] Newcastle. Live and die by the youthful sword, because even if it is a defeat, it's still showing the levels for these new lads. It's showing Khusanov, Nico, Marmoush, Savinho what it's like to play City, what it's like to play at the Bernabeu at the highest level."

"Play those young lads and see what we can do"

McInerney added: "I want to see Guardiola start them. For one, it's a logical answer after Newcastle. Guardiola came out and said if we'd played like that all season, we wouldn't have been 22nd in the Champions League, we would have been in the top eight, and he's right.

"Guardiola saying that, acknowledging it, looking at the weaknesses against Real Madrid in the first leg, all the solutions seem to point towards playing the same team against Newcastle.

"I think they'll still win Real Madrid, but I don't see what City have got to lose. It's set up just to play the same team again, to give these new lads the experience, and I think it'd be a missed opportunity to not do that because we're playing for the future now.

"I don't think we're playing realistically to win the Champions League right now. Let them have that lesson, that life lesson, which would be invaluable for them, and who knows, maybe they actually have the tools to correct our weaknesses, because I don't think it's a great Real Madrid side. It's got great players, but I don't think it's a great team, so go for it. Play those young lads and see what we can do."

McInerney believes that Guardiola 'cannot drop' either Marmoush or Savinho after their impressive performances against Newcastle, while he has also discussed whether Bernardo Silva or De Bruyne will be recalled.

"Bernardo is Guardiola's right-hand man... [but] I don't see how you cannot play Savinho and Marmoush after the weekend," he added. "I just don't see how you can't, and I thought Phil Foden was good as well, playing as more of a classic 10 in the pockets.

'Marmoush, Savinho cannot be dropped for Real Madrid clash'

"Marmoush cannot be dropped after scoring a hat-trick. Savinho cannot be dropped after that performance (against Newcastle) and he was good against Real Madrid too. He was a bright spark. I don't see how we can just abandon that.

"There will be one or two subtle tweaks, I reckon. Bernardo Silva is trusted. It could be that Bernardo comes in alongside Nico Gonzalez instead of [Ilkay] Gundogan, but Gundogan seemed to work technically and tactically (alongside Gonzalez against Newcastle), So maybe Bernardo, who hasn't had a great season, sits on the bench again.

"Maybe De Bruyne sits on the bench again. The defence sort of chooses itself depending on who's fit, but I think Guardiola might have to go with the same backline again.

"I think with no [Jack] Grealish and the fitness of the other players, I think once again, he might just have to go with the same team again."

McInerney has also shared his thoughts on whether Man City can turn this tie around and overcome the Champions League holders to progress to the last 16.

Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion ahead of Man City's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Written by

Oliver Thomas