Pep Guardiola is reportedly considering a bold tactical shift for the match against Manchester United, leaving Manchester City fans in disbelief.

Pep Guardiola has revealed plans for a bold tactical shift as Manchester City look to bounce back from a dismal run of form. The Premier League champions have managed just one win in their last 10 matches and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League midweek.

Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, City face a defensive crisis with Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Nathan Ake unavailable, and Rico Lewis suspended. This leaves Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol as the only fit defenders. Guardiola, known for his unconventional solutions, hinted in his press conference that midfielder Matheus Nunes could fill in at full-back. He also suggested the possibility of switching to a five-at-the-back formation, a system rarely associated with City under his leadership.

Guardiola remarked, “Against United, maybe Matheus Nunes can play as a full-back or maybe five at the back, I’m thinking…” Fans reacted with a mix of disbelief and concern over the idea of Nunes in defense. Comments ranged from humor to frustration, with one fan calling it “another madness loading,” while another joked, “We’re so cooked.”

This wouldn’t be the first time Guardiola has repurposed players as defenders, having done so with Fabian Delph, Fernandinho, and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the past. However, City’s current injury woes and aging squad have fueled speculation about potential signings in January, particularly for a midfielder and striker. Despite this, Guardiola downplayed the likelihood of major spending, emphasizing his preference to see his current squad return to fitness.

Fans can watch the Manchester derby on Sunday through platforms like Sky Sports or TNT Sports, accessible via devices such as Amazon’s Fire TV

Stick.