download All Football App

The new Man City selection dilemma facing Guardiola

  /  autty

Benjamin Mendy returned to training with his Manchester City team-mates this week as he nears a return to the first-team fold.

A metatarsal problem, followed by successive knee injuries had restricted Mendy's appearances for the champions over his first two seasons at the club. However, he has worked hard over the past few months to step up his recovery process and even opted to miss the club's tour of Asia in order to focus on regaining his fitness.

Through his performances at Monaco, and his sparse displays at the Etihad, Mendy has proven he is the best example of a modern day full-back. He is physically imposing, boasts good stamina and of course blistering pace.

In his absence, Oleksandr Zinchenko has cemented himself as City's key left-back. Although a right-sided midfielder by trade, his left-footedness made him the perfect candidate for Pep Guardiola to coach and evolve into a more than adequate replacement for Mendy.

Despite this, there still seems to be a lopsidedness to City's attack. This is evident from their opening three matches so far this season. The champions have commenced 48 of their attacks down their right flank, whilst just 39 have started down their left.

For comparison, during Mendy's last three senior appearances for City vs Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Brighton, the Blues built 58 of their attacks down the left utilising Mendy, and just 27 down the right.

Whilst this isn't necessarily a direct reflection on Zinchenko, it does add more meat to the bone in terms of whether Mendy will be reinstated as the first-choice left-back, or whether Zinchenko's legitimate qualities in the position will see him remain the club's number one. But who should take up the position when the French defender does return?

Firstly, it's important to point out the defensive solidity Zinchenko provides. He is smaller at 5ft9in and weighs much less than Mendy at 64kg, yet he still averaged a higher success rate in terms of defensive duels and duels in the air. Additionally, perhaps fine tuned from his more natural role as a midfielder, he also proved apt in reading and intercepting oppositions attacking play, averaging more interceptions than the Frenchman.

Whilst more than competent in defence, Mendy, of course, built his name through his strong attacking credentials. Again, Zinchenko proved more than adequate last season in this department, averaging four assists and two goals.

However, it is worth noting that despite playing nearly 2,000 minutes fewer than Zinchenko, Mendy also managed four assists last season.

Looking again at that same sample size, we can see that Zinchenko proved a slightly better runner with the ball, averaging 2.1 progressive runs per 90 minutes in comparison to Mendy's average of 1.9 per 90 minutes. However, when we look at both players output in the final third, we can see that Mendy's more natural wing-back credentials begin to shine.

Mendy averaged more crosses, more dribbles and more passes into the box per 90 minutes, and all with a much better accuracy than Zinchenko.

Given City's all round dominance in most matches, it is likely that Mendy's attacking prowess may prove the decisive factor in cementing him a route straight back into the City first team.