Predicted Manchester City Starting XI To Face Borussia Dortmund In The International Champions Cup

Manchester City will take on Borussia Dortmund in their second match of the International Champions Cup on 28^th July at Longgang Stadium in ShenzhenThe Citizens are supposed to open their 2016 ICC campaign against the Red Devils, but their Monday night game at the Beijing National Stadium was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Pep Guardiola came to China on the back of a 1-0 against his former employers Bayern Munich. With some players just returning back to training after their involvement in Euro 2016 and the Copa America and some still away on holiday, Guardiola will have a depleted squad to choose from.

City have made a couple excellent signing this summer, which will definitely go a long in strengthening their squad depth and quality in the starting XI. Borussia Dortmund hammered City rivals United 4-1 in their first of the International Champions Cup and will look to do the double over the Manchester clubs. Guardiola knows this Dortmund team very well from his time as the manager of Bayern Munich. This match will provide him with a perfect opportunity to assess how ready his squad is, now that the new season is just days away. Let’s look at the Starting XI that Guardiola might start with against Borussia Dortmund.

Goalkeeper: Joe Hart

Hart had a disastrous Euro 2016, where two mistakes from him led directly to goals. He will be itching to get on the field and start performing for his new manager Guardiola. With few more days of training under his belt, expect the England number one to start between the sticks against the German club.

Defenders: Maffeo, Humphreys, Adarabioyo and Clichy

Although City lost the game against Bayern Munich, it was their young back-line that caught everyone’s attention, Maffeo did excellently well on the right in Germany, keeping Ribery quiet and should start again on Thursday. Adarabioyo will partner Humphreys in central defence, after an uncomfortable performance by Kolarov as a centre-back against Munich. Clichy will move like take his place on the left, ahead of Angelino, who was brilliant in the last match as a left-back first and then as a left-winger.

Midfielders: Fernando, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure and Sterling

Guardiola might be tempted to start with an experienced midfield, given that most of his fit senior midfielders have travelled to China with the team. The Brazilian duo of Fernando and Fernandinho will start together in central midfield behind Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure, who will have to work hard to keep his place in the starting XI next season. Like his fellow countrymen Sterling too disappointed in France, which has led to doubts regarding his future at the Etihad stadium. Now that he has joined up with Guardiola, he will be itching to get on the field and show the manager why he is worth every bit of money that City paid to get him. Spanish midfielder Jesus Navas will be expected to start on the right-wing.

Striker: Wilfred Bony

Although Aguero has returned to pre-season training, Guardiola might choose to go with Bony for this one, given how important it is for City to have that second in form striker. Bony has been overtaken by Iheanacho in the pecking order and therefore needs to start performing or otherwise it could be curtains on his City career.