In the 6th round of the English Premier League, "Manchester City" defeated "Burnley" 5:1 at home, recording their third big victory in the competition. This match was memorable not only for the large score but also demonstrated Josep Guardiola's lineup decisions and the increased internal competition within the team.
Before this match, serious absences were observed in the "Citizens" squad. Key players such as Rodri, Abduqodir Husanov, Ryan Ait-Nouri, Raheem Sterling, and Omar Marmoush could not participate due to injuries. Therefore, Guardiola was forced to trust new names.
Several players who usually stay on the bench — Jeremy Doku, Niko O’Reilly, Mateusz Nunes, and Niko Gonzalez — had the opportunity to show themselves on the field this time. At the same time, their performances intensified the competition for the main lineup.
Niko O’Reilly showed a worthy game in left-back and became the main rival to Ait-Nouri. Omar Marmoush's knee injury opened the door for Jeremy Doku, and the Belgian striker is skillfully making the most of this opportunity.
Also, Niko Gonzalez and Mateusz Nunes, who played instead of Rodri and Husanov, performed highly in the match against "Burnley". Especially, Nunes did not limit himself to defensive duties but actively participated in attack and scored an important goal for the team.
Experts emphasize that Nunes's enthusiasm and physical readiness were just what Guardiola's team needed. According to the Spanish coach, Nunes's actions became a decisive factor in strengthening the attacks.
However, with the return of the main players after recovery, competition is expected to intensify further. Since Rodri holds a special status for Guardiola, he will take his place in the team as soon as he returns. But Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Sterling, and Husanov will need to put in even more effort to keep their spots in the lineup.
Abduqodir Husanov has become one of the most interesting competition points within the team. The Uzbek footballer gained Guardiola's trust at the beginning of the season with reliable play as right-back. However, due to his injury, Nunes, who was playing in the starting lineup, also proved himself at this position.
Nunes's constant involvement in the attack was one of the main factors behind the victory. Guardiola said, "We needed Nunes's physical strength. His speed, enthusiasm, and energy brought victory. His actions played an important role in the transition to attack. Actually, Mateusz is a defensive midfielder, so we are justified in expecting better passes and effective moves from him on the field. I support him playing that way," acknowledged - writes the expert Adam Marrett on esteemedkompany.com.
At the same time, Husanov will also have to compete with major rivals like Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, and Ruben Dias for central defense.
Notably, Abduqodir Husanov is expected to return to the squad soon. According to reports, he may recover in time for the match against "Brentford" on October 5.
Thus, the team competition at "Manchester City" has intensified, and each player is required to fight more strictly for their place. This, in turn, will certainly raise the team's overall level to a higher stage.
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