Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals ‘ridiculous thoughts’ to stop Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in this weekend’s derby

Pep Guardiola has revealed he’s had ‘ridiculous thoughts’ about how to tackle Manchester United this weekend.

The Manchester City boss is devising his masterplan for the derby clash on Saturday lunchtime, a clash that is exclusively live on talkSPORT.

AFP

City will be hoping to pull off a victory at Old Trafford as they look to shorten the gap between them and league leaders Arsenal to just two points, at least until they face Tottenham on Sunday.

Guardiola has a track record of keeping opposition managers guessing, with Joao Cancelo starting on the right wing against Liverpool and Chelsea this term.

Three years ago against United, he operated with two defensive midfielders and two false nines to unsettle his opponents.

But while the Spaniard could have something up his sleeve, he says that he’s yet to finalise his plan.

Guardiola said: ‘I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players being quite similar because I have a few ideas, some thoughts, ridiculous ones against United.

‘But still I didn’t watch their last games.

Getty

“I have to see the way they play at home and if they change something. I still have to review it. That is why I don’t have a clear line-up against United.”

One potential option could be for Guardiola to bring Kalvin Phillips into the midfield for extra protection against United’s attacking line, something that the the head coach says he’s capable of doing.

Guardiola said: “It depends on him if he can fight with Rodri — the big clubs have to have this.

“He has to fight with Rodri for the benefit of all of us. Rodri cannot slip for the feeling he has someone close to him. 

Getty

“With the duels especially, Kalvin understands when the ball is coming and is strong in the air. 

“He has the quality to break lines, wide and inside. He has to improve the reception of the ball from our central defenders and this is a question of time.

‘He’s a national team player. He played amazingly at the Euros. 

“He has mentality, resilience, fight — many attributes that meant he could settle with us and I’m convinced it’s going to happen.”

Source