Man City vs PSG: Predicted Line-Up, Team News and Selection Calls
Manchester City go into Wednesday night’s Champions League meeting with PSG carrying noise off the pitch and clarity on it. Enzo Maresca has no fresh injury problems, which matters more than the theatre around him. Availability shapes games. City, for now, have it.
The backdrop is obvious. This will be City’s first home game since an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges linked to serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations across nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. City deny any wrongdoing and have appealed. It dominated the build-up again, along with the 3-0 win over Liverpool, and Maresca still has a football match to prepare for.
Phil Foden available, Rayan Cherki trusted
Phil Foden is available in Europe as his ban was only for domestic football. That does not mean he walks straight back in. Rayan Cherki has taken the No 10 role and kept it through performance, not reputation. Maresca has options, but there is little logic in changing what currently works.
Jeremy Doku has a stronger case to start. His cameo at Anfield was decisive. He created Erling Haaland’s goal, scored himself and drew the foul from Ryan Gravenberch that brought the red card. One of Antoine Semenyo or Iliman Ndiaye could drop out if Maresca wants more direct running against PSG.
Defence and Haaland in focus
At the back, Josko Gvardiol may return for Nico O’Reilly after a difficult outing against Victor Munoz. In attack, Haaland leads the line looking to score in a seventh straight City game. That tends to be the detail that settles elite matches.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is also in line to face his former club for the first time since leaving the Parc des Princes, which adds a useful subplot without changing the essentials.
Predicted Man City XI vs PSG
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Kick-off is at 8pm BST on Wednesday, October 14 at the Etihad Stadium. For City, this is simple enough. Ignore the noise, trust the available squad and deal with PSG properly.
