View From A Blue

Aleks Kolarov is sidelined for around a month with the injury he sustained in the warm-up ahead of Sunday’s derby, so Gael Clichy will start on the left of the back four hoping to continue the improvement he showed against United. The only defensive selection dilemma for Manuel Pellegrini will be either Martin Demichelis or [...]

After being rested for the Capital One Cup, Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany will return to defensive position for the derby, with the main selection issue being that of Kompany’s central partner. Eliaquim Mangala will surely be the long-term option at the back, but as he has struggled to settle down and looked [...]

Willy Caballero will start in goal, making just his third appearance of the campaign, and there could also be plenty of changes throughout the rest of the side. Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis and Aleks Kolarov are all likely to step into the starting XI, while Eliaquim Mangala, Dedryck Boyata and Matija Nastasic are vying for [...]

Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis are competing for a place alongside Vincent Kompany at the heart of the back four. The Frenchman has looked shaky in his last couple of appearances and Demichelis’s experience will always appeal to Manuel Pellegrini, but against a West Ham side that have started the season superbly and possess pace [...]

Pablo Zabaleta is set to return for this must-win Champions League encounter after being rested at the weekend. Aleks Kolarov is expected to replace Gael Clichy on the left of the back four, with Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis competing for a place alongside Vincent Kompany at the heart of defence. James Miner’s recent form [...]