With the new season upon us tomorrow, we caught up with ReadManCity editor Ben Warner for a quick Q&A about tomorrow’s opponents.
1. How have City coped in pre-season? Any winning runs we should be concerned about?
Not at all, really. The high point was probably a 3-0 win over St. Johnstone which none of the fans saw, but other than that it’s not been great. Losses to Arsenal and Bayern Munich, and we needed penalties to beat Borussia Dortmund after a 1-1 draw.
2. How has Pep Guardiola recruited in the summer?
On the whole, it’s been a good summer. Nolito is exactly the Pedro-type of winger that Pep needs, while John Stones has the potential to be one of the best defenders of modern times. Ilkay Gundogan will be integral once he’s fit and we’ve signed a host of young talent including Gabriel Jesus and Marlos Moreno from South America.
3. Who should Sunderland be concerned about on Saturday evening?
The usual suspects, Aguero, etc, but also Nolito if Jack Rodwell starts at right-back as expected (or at least as I was told he would). I’m also backing Sterling to have a better season so potentially him as well.
4. Who is missing for City in the season opener?
It sounds like Leroy Sane is out with a hamstring niggle, and Kompany’s likely still out for a while even though he’s back in training. Ilkay Gundogan’s still out for another month or so with that dislocated knee he got at the end of the season.
5. What’s your predicted XI for the game?
This might honestly be the hardest time I’ve had trying to pick a team because Pep mixes formations up so much, but I’ll go with a basic 4-2-3-1 this time.
Hart, Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Navas, Sterling, Nolito, Aguero
6. Finally, what result are you predicting?
I’m gonna go for a comfortable 3-0. Moyes doesn’t like facing us.
