Manchester City look to be loaded with creativity on their left-hand side

After a busy summer in the transfer market, there is a new look to the Manchester City squad for next season. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have arrived and figure to have key roles to play for their new team. As we saw at the FIFA Club World Cup, there looked to be a blossoming combination forming between Rayan Ait-Nouri and Jeremy Doku. But delving even deeper into Manchester City’s left-hand side it could prove to be a hub of creativity for Pep Guardiola’s side next season.

Assessing who can play on either the left wing or at left-back for Manchester City shows that Pep Guardiola has a host of quality options at his disposal. On the left wing, it would seem that Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku are battling it out to be Manchester City’s first-choice on the left wing. Each player has their own strengths that they bring to the position. Marmoush brings goals, and decisive, intelligent and dangerous runs in behind. Doku excels in one-on-one situations, and if his end product improves, he has the potential to become a world-class winger.

Rayan Cherki can also play on the left wing if required. With his bag of tricks and creativity, he could be another dangerous option for Pep Guardiola. Although he figures to play centrally or on the right wing. Lastly, Savinho could play on the left. But he seems destined to play on the right wing.

At left-back, Manchester City have a host of quality and diverse options. Rayan Ait-Nouri adds exactly what City have lacked for a considerable amount of time. The Algerian international is a specialist left-back. Pep Guardiola hasn’t had one of those at his disposal for some time. The strengths of Ait-Nouri’s game do add a new dimension to City’s play. Ait-Nouri is a threat with the ball at his feet and is blessed with a wide array of passing. He can play as an overlapping full-back or as an inverted full-back. Coupling Ait-Nouri’s game with Manchester City’s wingers could form a lethal weapon for Pep Guardiola to unleash.

Nico O’Reilly and Josko Gvardiol would seemingly be City’s other left-back options. O’Reilly showed last season what he can do at left-back. The young midfielder is a technically gifted player and provides a profound attacking threat from left-back. Josko Gvardiol’s strengths at left-back are well-established. He’s a threat inverting into midfield with his tremendous technical ability. Gvardiol is a proven goal threat as he has shown during his two seasons at Manchester City.

But where Manchester City’s left-hand side looks threatening is when all of those options are combined. During Manchester City’s 5-2 win over Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup, the combination of Doku and Ait-Nouri caused havoc. They already look like they’ve quickly developed an understanding. Their games complement each other, and their link-up play should be a profitable source of goals for Manchester City next season.

In theory, the combination of Ait-Nouri and Marmoush should be equally as profitable. Their games do appear to be suited to playing together. How they combine is well worth watching out for. Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly playing at left-back have already proven how dangerous they can be. They add a different element to Manchester City’s style of play than what Rayan Ait-Nouri will provide. But it is no less dangerous and each player combines well with Manchester City’s options on the left wing.

It would appear that the left-hand side will be a profitable source of goals and assists for Manchester City next season. It is an area of Pep Guardiola’s squad that is stacked with talent and contrasting styles of players. Pep Guardiola is blessed with quality players on that side of the pitch and how he utilises those players will be of great interest to watch unfold next season.