Guardiola faces selection and structure questions as Man City head into Manchester derby

Manchester City head into Sunday’s Manchester derby trailing rivals Manchester United by a point, with Pep Guardiola facing a series of selection and structural problems that have contributed to back-to-back defeats and an uneasy start to the season.

City’s immediate priorities include managing a lengthy injury list, integrating a large group of new signings, resolving a confused goalkeeping situation and shoring up defensive vulnerabilities that opponents have repeatedly exploited this month. Guardiola has described the game as “a really important game for us to change the dynamic” and said he trusts his players, but the scale of change at the Etihad means City arrive at Old Trafford far from the settled unit that dominated English football for much of the last decade.

Guardiola has overseen a major squad overhaul since January, with 10 new signings adding youth and depth after a trophyless 2024-25 season. Long-serving figures and experienced winners including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson and Manuel Akanji have left, and the dressing room has lost significant experience that had been built over years. Club sources told BBC Sport that training has gone well and there is confidence ahead of the derby, but they also acknowledge the fixture kicks off a demanding week: the rivals at Old Trafford, a Champions League return for Kevin De Bruyne against Napoli, and a trip to title contenders Arsenal the following weekend.

Injuries have compounded the transition. New signing Rayan Cherki is sidelined for around two months with a thigh problem, while Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Mateo Kovacic are also out. John Stones is a doubt and new arrivals Josko Gvardiol and Savinho have yet to play this season. The right-back position remains a particular concern: Rico Lewis struggled in the home defeat to Tottenham and Matheus Nunes conceded a penalty after being introduced against Brighton.

The goalkeeping department has become another area of turbulence. After June assurances that Ederson and Stefan Ortega would continue, City signed three keepers during the summer. Marcus Bettinelli arrived, Burnley’s James Trafford was re-signed after Newcastle’s bid was matched, and Gianluigi Donnarumma was added on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain. Ederson was sold to Fenerbahce shortly after being reaffirmed as number one, while Ortega has stayed at the club despite interest elsewhere. That sequence leaves City with four senior goalkeepers and questions over how each will fit into Guardiola’s plans.

Former City defender Nedum Onuoha warned that Ederson’s departure removes a goalkeeper who acted as an extra outfield player and helped City’s build-up. “A lot of people didn't really understand the true value of Ederson because his shot-stopping is great, but his ability to get on the ball and to be the spare player that can create something,” Onuoha said. He added that further errors from the goalkeeper position could encourage opposition teams and alter how City play.

Tactical weaknesses have been evident in recent defeats. Against Tottenham and Brighton, City conceded from situations in which they failed to press an opponent’s wide full-back; a direct pass then exploited numerical advantages on the flank and led to goals. That pattern aligns with Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim’s game model, which seeks to draw pressure and then play direct passes to teammates running in behind while overloading wide areas. United’s early-season results suggest they may try to exploit those specific frailties in the derby.

Analysts say City have also struggled to win duels in the middle of the pitch when matches have become stretched. United’s midfield trio — Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Mason Mount — have won a high proportion of their duels this season, while City’s numbers are more mixed. Nico González (73%) and Rodri (71%) have strong duel-win percentages, but others have drifted below expected levels, leaving Guardiola with difficult selection choices in midfield if City are to match United’s direct approach.

Guardiola has highlighted the need to think primarily about City rather than the opposition. “We came back on Thursday — players came back good — and I am looking forward to it for our fans. I know how important it is,” he told BBC Sport. The manager’s comments came as United weathered their own public scrutiny after a Carabao Cup exit to League Two Grimsby and criticism from former players. Wayne Rooney said something was “broken” at Old Trafford, even as United carry momentum from a stoppage-time win against Burnley before the international break.

The context of a wide summer turnover and a congested fixture list helps explain the fragility. City’s spending since January is estimated at about £350 million for 10 additions, a heavy outlay but less than rivals Liverpool’s summer investment of around £415 million. The reshaping of personnel, combined with injuries and unanswered questions over positions and tactical balance, has created a period of adjustment in which small mistakes have been punished.

How Guardiola addresses the right-back area, the midfield selection against a direct United without conceding the wide overloads, and which goalkeeper is chosen for high-pressure matches will shape City’s short-term trajectory. Victory at Old Trafford would halt a worrying early trend: no team has won the Premier League title after losing two of their opening three games in a 38-match season. A defeat could deepen scrutiny and increase the pressure on a team still finding its new identity.

Sunday’s derby arrives as both clubs seek answers. For City, the immediate tasks are pragmatic: restore defensive organization when pressed on the flanks, choose a midfield capable of winning duels in stretched moments, and settle an unsettled goalkeeping area. How successfully Guardiola navigates those questions over the coming fixtures will be a key indicator of whether this season’s early turbulence is a temporary readjustment or the start of a more prolonged challenge.