What Guardiola likes about Chelsea as 3 Blues make combined Man City XI

Legendary manager Pep Guardiola likes the modern version of Chelsea Football Club and its latest gaffer. And Enzo Maresca is a fellow boss who the Spaniard knows personally very well indeed. But which aspects of CFC does the Citizens emperor admire? Guardiola also indicated roughly where he thinks his upcoming opponents can finish in the Premier League this season. Does the forecast land higher or lower than 2023/24 for the newly appointed Chels' chief?

In addition to checking out Guardiola's widely coveted thoughts, there is also an interesting and surely polarising combined Man City XI to assess. Before you ask or consider the set-up, a trio of Blues have actually made it in. All will be revealed in due course.

ManChels FC

If you were of the opinion that Man City stars would dominate a team made up of both Chelsea standouts and their own, you would have been correct. However, some people will have undoubtedly guessed that Citizens would compose the amalgamated side entirely. They would be wrong, in this instance.

We are, of course, referring to Football365's latest effort of making a combination lineup. And, with a mouthwatering Stamford Bridge clash between Chels and City on the horizon, let's see what the outlet has devised. As you can see on the below post from F365's X account, there are some glaring admissions from MCFC in order to accommodate some deserving Blues.

First of all, Jack Grealish misses out. Some fans will be unsurprised at this news: since the former Aston Villa man went further north, he's been a measured, almost boring version of formerly entertaining self. Although, under Guardiola, Grealish's careful approach obviously helped them lift many trophies in 2022/23.

Kyle Waker is another bold absentee. The recovery legend is still a mainstay of the Manchester outfit. Though, he now has the thrilling and more attacking-capable Rico Lewis to contend with. So the England stalwart's Man City place is technically unsafe. Jeremy Doku was also left out; the Dutchman hasn't made himself undroppable as of yet.

Not selecting Josko Gvardiol in spite of Marc Cucurella's stellar year is probably inaccurate, albeit subjective. On his day, Gvardiol is the more impactful player. I'm a big Reece James fan, too, but his recent injury record arguably keeps him out in reality. Cole Palmer currently walks into any team, in my opinion.

Pep Guardiola on Chelsea

What the footballing great said of CFC and Maresca is below:

"So there are a lot, a lot of teams [who can challenge for top four, or six]. Chelsea, again, with the amount of players, the quality, I believe with the manager."

- Pep Guardiola