Reigning European champions start their defence.

Got tickets for this - didn’t realise it was Tuesday 

i love the champions league

Need to set down a marker ahead of facing Juve that is for sure, but also take the opportunity to offer some game time to others in need.

 

Kepa

 

Chalobah

Silva

Alonso

 

James

Jorginho

Saul

Chilwell

 

Ziyech

Lukaku

CHO

12 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Need to set down a marker ahead of facing Juve that is for sure, but also take the opportunity to offer some game time to others in need.

 

Kepa

 

Chalobah

Silva

Alonso

 

James

Jorginho

Saul

Chilwell

 

Ziyech

Lukaku

CHO

No way we play this. We rested players against villa  so we could play a strong team against zenith and Spurs. Zenith are the champions of Russia and have some good Brazilian players. We need to start the defense of our Trophy with the right attitude

                          Mendy

       Azpi.    Christensen.  Rudiger

James.   Kovacic.    Jorginho.     Chilwell

                          Mount

           Lukaku.          Werner

2 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

No way we play this. We rested players against villa  so we could play a strong team against zenith and Spurs. Zenith are the champions of Russia and have some good Brazilian players. We need to start the defense of our Trophy with the right attitude

                          Mendy

       Azpi.    Christensen.  Rudiger

James.   Kovacic.    Jorginho.     Chilwell

                          Mount

           Lukaku.          Werner

Key word you used there is attitude. With the right attitude the team I picked would beat Zenit. All depends on attitude.

Let’s start the champions league campaign with a win. zenit are no mugs.

 

mendy 

azbi christensen rudiger 

james jorginho kante chilly 

Mount Werner 

lukaku 

 

Time for Tuchel to revert to normal service...

Mendy

Dave Christensen Rudiger 

James Kante Jourinho Chillwell

Mount Lukaku Havertz

I think Saul should start. He got a rude awakening to the Prem but he's experienced in the CL. Mind you if he flops here his confidence would be shot.

Important to start with a win in the CL. 

Tuchel has made some positive rotation despite not a promising performance against Villa but we can play our top players.

I'd like to see this lineup:

---------------- Mendy ----------------

-- Azpilicueta - Christensen - Rudiger -

James --- Kovacic -- Jorginho --- Chilwell

----- Mount -------- Werner ----------

-------------- Lukaku -------------

 

We're coming as winners of this competition. Let's prove this for another year! COME ON CHELS!!!

2 hours ago, KonaKai Blue said:

I think Saul should start. He got a rude awakening to the Prem but he's experienced in the CL. Mind you if he flops here his confidence would be shot.

Think Villa in the league cup would be a better option.

Put in the usual starting eleven. Maybe minus Havertz for Werner. 

Need to score early then rest the key players 

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Key word you used there is attitude. With the right attitude the team I picked would beat Zenit. All depends on attitude.

I agree with your point about attitude but after yesterdays performance with a rotated squad but I am sure Tuchel will go with a familiar line up. Most people are under estimating Zenith because they know nothing about them but they won the Russian league last season and are top of the league this season.  They and Juve are our real threats in the group especially with the fact that we have to go to Russia in December when the temperature will probably be sub zero 

Saul is experienced in these CL. He is also fresh to play. A better performance here and it is a good platform to start playing better. 

38 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree with your point about attitude but after yesterdays performance with a rotated squad but I am sure Tuchel will go with a familiar line up. Most people are under estimating Zenith because they know nothing about them but they won the Russian league last season and are top of the league this season.  They and Juve are our real threats in the group especially with the fact that we have to go to Russia in December when the temperature will probably be sub zero 

Tuchel will prioritise the CL again, same as Pep, the only two managers in the league who will/can. So expect a very strong team.

7 minutes ago, coco said:

Tuchel will prioritise the CL again, same as Pep, the only two managers in the league who will/can. So expect a very strong team.

I agree but I think Tuchel should prioritise the league over everything else. If he wins the league he will probably be our greatest manager ever since he has won the UCL , Super cup and hopefully the club World cup in December. Pep needs to prioritize the UCL because it will be an asterixis on his time at City if he doesn't win it.  Thankfully we have the UCL monkey off our back, I just need the Premier League title back were it belongs

11 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree but I think Tuchel should prioritise the league over everything else. If he wins the league he will probably be our greatest manager ever since he has won the UCL , Super cup and hopefully the club World cup in December. Pep needs to prioritize the UCL because it will be an asterixis on his time at City if he doesn't win it.  Thankfully we have the UCL monkey off our back, I just need the Premier League title back were it belongs

This is the difference between the fans and the clubs goals. Probably because financially its better to win the CL and finish top 4, than win the EPL and get to the QF's of the CL. When i was a kid the FA cup was more important than the league for fans, and the club because it meant bumper gates and more games resulting in more money.

 

2 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree with your point about attitude but after yesterdays performance with a rotated squad but I am sure Tuchel will go with a familiar line up. Most people are under estimating Zenith because they know nothing about them but they won the Russian league last season and are top of the league this season.  They and Juve are our real threats in the group especially with the fact that we have to go to Russia in December when the temperature will probably be sub zero 

Fair points, discounting Malmo as a threat then?

1 hour ago, The Don Antonio said:

I agree but I think Tuchel should prioritise the league over everything else. If he wins the league he will probably be our greatest manager ever since he has won the UCL , Super cup and hopefully the club World cup in December. Pep needs to prioritize the UCL because it will be an asterixis on his time at City if he doesn't win it.  Thankfully we have the UCL monkey off our back, I just need the Premier League title back were it belongs

To be fair here if TT delivers a second CL it would not matter if we finished 10th in the league he would still be our greatest ever manager.

I'm all for resting Kovacic and playing Saul with Jorginho like @axman2526 put there. Great opportunity for Saul to show that he is a good CM.

20 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Need to set down a marker ahead of facing Juve that is for sure, but also take the opportunity to offer some game time to others in need.

 

Kepa

 

Chalobah

Silva

Alonso

 

James

Jorginho

Saul

Chilwell

 

Ziyech

Lukaku

CHO

Even if we are playing against a small team, we still need a cracking performance. So, our best players must play. I don't think this is time for rotation. Against small teams in the premier league, we can rotate.

Regardless how strong or weak Zenit is, needs to respect the competition and play with a strong team , since all teams start with 0 points and anything could happen. I expect to see Werner, Chiwell, Mount to play, Lukakau for 60 minutes if we manage to get the 2 goals lead.

This might not be as easy as it appears to be. Zenit are in great form and have literally nothing to lose here. They certainly have the ambition to get past the group stage, and considering Juventus are in a shambles at the moment, that may be achievable.

We can't allow ourselves to underestimate them. One defensive mistake and their lethal attacking duo (Azmoun - Dzyuba) could punish us. Some improvement needed over the Villa game in that area.

                              Mendy

           Azpi       Christensen    Rudiger

  James       Kovacic     Saul       Chilwell

                       Mount     Werner

                              Lukaku 

7 hours ago, wizardous said:

                              Mendy

           Azpi       Christensen    Rudiger

  James       Kovacic     Saul       Chilwell

                       Mount     Werner

                              Lukaku 

Agree about this except that I see Havertz starting over Werner ( though more of a 50/50) and Jorgi starting over Saul.

4 hours ago, weetee said:

Agree about this except that I see Havertz starting over Werner ( though more of a 50/50) and Jorgi starting over Saul.

That is what I would like to see. Werner needs to regain his confidence and this game could be a fresh start for him. Also it would be beneficial if Jorginho gets some rest but I don't really think that is going to happen.

5 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

Tuchel obviously doesn't agree with your assessment and neither do I seeing as Alonso started against Villa and was made captain..

I was terrified of Salah and TAA ripping Alonso a new one in anfield but he held his own and even offered some support to the attack regardless of being a man down

I prefer my coach making decisions based on performances in training and not reputation. Alonso has been by far our best wingback this season and I am sure Chilwell recognizes this. He will get his chance sooner or later but for now I prefer the false 3

 

2 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

Time will tell . To be fair Alonso had a head start due to being involved in pre season since day 1. I am fine with either player to be fair.

 

18:45