Man City predicted XI vs. Chelsea: Guardiola to make statement with title and UCL final in sight

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After securing their spot in their first-ever UEFA Champions League final, Manchester City will get a chance to make a statement when they face off against Chelsea on Saturday evening, the side they will be competing against in Istanbul for the grandest prize in European football.

Pep Guardiola and his high-flying Cityzens will not only be eager to lay down the mark when Thomas Tuchel’s side make the trip up to Manchester ahead of this month’s Champions League final, but the Spanish manager will also be keen to secure the three points that could wrap up the title for the four-time Premier League winners.

A win and Manchester United failing to beat Aston Villa will see the title return to the blue half of Manchester, making it three league titles in four years for Guardiola’s side, and victory over Chelsea will be the perfect confidence booster ahead of the huge game in Turkey in a few weeks time.

But who will start on Saturday evening?

Ruben Dias and John Stones were in the form of their lives on Tuesday evening against PSG, winning plenty of plaudits against the French giants as the duo kept a clean sheet in City’s 2-0 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s side, and it is likely Oleksandr Zinchenko, who also started midweek, will retain his spot at left-back, with Ederson and Joao Cancelo returning to the XI.

In midfield, Rodri could return to the line-up with 36-year-old Fernandinho starting the last three games, with Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan joining the Spaniard to form an exciting three-man trident in the centre of the park that offers fantastic technical quality as well as an attacking edge that will be needed for Chelsea’s solid defensive structure.

Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez should retain their spots in the XI after their electric performances for City on Tuesday night, with the Algerian winger bagging a brace against PSG to clinch a 4-1 aggregate win for the Manchester side.

To wrap up the XI, Sergio Aguero should make the start against Chelsea given his record in big games and his ability to drift through defences with ease, a trait that could punish the Blues if they’re not careful enough.

Manchester City predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Aguero, Foden