Friday Gossip

Rob Pollard@RobPollardMCFC

Media: Guardiola's City are breath-taking

City face Aston Villa on Sunday with silverware at stake.

Men's Team
De Bruyne, Laporte and Jesus all nominated for February Etihad award
Pep Guardiola’s men are looking to win the Carabao Cup for the third-successive season, and we can bring you some early opposition team news ahead of that one in this morning’s roundup of media musings.
But before that, there’s plenty of praise for Kevin De Bruyne after he delivered another masterclass performance on Wednesday, and a former City midfielder has been speaking about our quality over the last two seasons.

It’s time for today’s Media Watch…

Opinion
Squawka's Chris Smith writes: “Kevin De Bruyne was once again the star as Manchester City pulled off a superb 2-1 win over Real Madrid in midweek, assisting the first goal and netting the second from the penalty spot.
“The Belgium international is central to everything Guardiola’s side do well and if he turns up at full capacity on Sunday, Villa will have a hard time stopping him.
“Key stat: De Bruyne has three assists against Aston Villa in the Premier League this season, a personal best against any opponent."

Replay This Season
Real Madrid 1-2 City: Full match replay
Former City midfielder Michael Brown told 888Sport: “We will get rival fans with opinions and that is normal these days. But we just have to look at what we were treated to last season with City’s performances in the Premier League and to win every game in the run-in was remarkable.
"Some of the football we’ve seen under Pep Guardiola has been breath-taking the likes of which no-one else has ever produced."
Carabao Cup final team news
Squawka's Chris Smith writes: "Dean Smith sensationally tore into his Aston Villa players after their 2-0 defeat to Southampton last time out, so expect a raft of changes to the side which took to the field in that one.
"Goalkeepers Jed Steer and Tom Heaton remain sidelined but Orjan Nyland is likely to dust off his gloves ahead of Pepe Reina having played a key role in getting Villa this far.
"Anwar El Ghazi and Keinan Davis are both doubts. Danny Drinkwater is ineligible.
Predicted XI: "Nyland; Engels, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Hourihane, Nakamba, Targett; El Ghazi, Samatta, Grealish."
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