Honestly, if you looked at the Manchester City team news before the derby today, you probably did a double-take. Rodri is back in the starting XI. That should be the headline, right? The Ballon d’Or winner returning to the base of the midfield is usually enough to make City fans breathe a massive sigh of relief.
But then you look at the rest of the sheet. It's... thin. Like, dangerously thin.
Pep Guardiola isn't just dealing with a few "niggles" anymore. He’s navigating a full-blown defensive crisis that has forced him to start teenagers in the biggest game of the season. If you're wondering why Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov are starting at Old Trafford, it’s because Pep literally has no one else left.
The Defensive Black Hole
The biggest shock in the latest manchester city team news isn't who is playing, but who isn't. Josko Gvardiol is effectively done for the season with a broken tibia. That’s a massive blow. Then you’ve got Ruben Dias out with a hamstring until at least February, and John Stones sidelined with his recurring thigh issues.
It’s a mess.
Guardiola admitted on Friday that the situation is "difficult," and not just for a week or two. We are talking about a "long, long period" without the spine of the defense that won them everything.
- Josko Gvardiol: Out until May (Broken Tibia)
- Ruben Dias: Expected back early February (Hamstring)
- John Stones: Still unavailable (Thigh)
Because of this, City had to pivot fast. They’ve basically wrapped up a deal for Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for about £20m plus add-ons, but he isn't here yet. Until then, we’re watching a 20-year-old Max Alleyne—who was on loan at Watford about five minutes ago—lead the line against United.
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Rodri’s Return: A False Sense of Security?
Seeing Rodri’s name on the team sheet is great. It really is. The guy hasn't played 90 minutes consistently since his ACL surgery and subsequent setbacks. He scored in the 10-1 demolition of Exeter City recently, but Exeter isn't the Premier League.
Pep was pretty blunt about it: "We tried to handle the minutes, but he's getting better."
The problem is that Rodri is being asked to shield a back four that has almost zero top-flight experience together. Rico Lewis is back at right-back, and Nathan Ake is essentially playing through the pain barrier at left-back because Rayan Ait-Nouri only just got back from AFCON after losing his flight connections.
It's chaotic. It’s very "un-City."
Midfield and Attack: Where the Goals Are
It’s not all doom. The front line is actually terrifying. Erling Haaland is starting despite some "fatigue" warnings from Pep earlier in the week. Apparently, the manager was even checking players' weights after Christmas to make sure nobody came back "fatty."
Haaland is fine. He loves the derby. He has 11 goal involvements in this fixture alone.
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The supporting cast is where it gets interesting. Antoine Semenyo, the £62.5m January signing from Bournemouth, has been a revelation. He’s starting on the wing alongside Jeremy Doku. With Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva—who just entered the top 10 for all-time City appearances—pulling the strings, United’s defense is going to have a long day.
But there are still gaps.
Mateo Kovacic is out with an ankle injury. Oscar Bobb is still sidelined. Savinho is a no-go. And Kevin De Bruyne? He isn't even in the building. He’s still in Belgium recovering from hamstring surgery after his move to Napoli.
Wait, did you forget he left? Yeah, the 34-year-old is a Napoli player now, but his shadow still hangs over this midfield whenever they struggle to create.
The AFCON Factor
Omar Marmoush is still missing. Egypt is deep into the tournament, and Pep confirmed he won't be back until the third-place play-off or final is over. This has forced Nico O’Reilly into more prominent roles than anyone expected this early in 2026.
Guardiola is basically duct-taping this squad together.
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The strategy today is simple: score more than you concede. With Khusanov and Alleyne at the back, City are going to give up chances. They have to. They’re kids. But with Foden, Semenyo, and Haaland, they’re betting they can just out-blitz anyone.
What This Means for Your FPL and Bets
If you're looking at the manchester city team news for fantasy reasons, stay away from the clean sheet bonuses. Seriously. This defense is a experimental lab right now.
However, Haaland is a lock. He’s fit, he’s angry about the recent draws against Chelsea and Brighton, and he has a point to prove.
Keep an eye on Marc Guehi’s registration. Once that deal is officially "green-lighted," the defensive stability might return, but for the next three or four games, expect high-scoring, heart-attack-inducing football from the blue half of Manchester.
Actionable Insights for the Next Fortnight:
- Monitor the Guehi Debut: If he's registered by Tuesday, he likely starts against Bodø/Glimt or Wolves.
- Rotation Risk: Expect heavy rotation in the Champions League/Carabao games to protect Rodri’s hamstring.
- Academy Watch: Max Alleyne is the real deal; if he survives the derby, he’s a permanent fixture until February.