Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne ‘not fully fit’ to face Chelsea side without Mount or Chilwell

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) misses out on Manchester City’s meeting with Chelsea because he is “not fully fit”.

That is according to a club press release issued on Saturday afternoon as Pep Guardiola names a rather unconventional side at the Etihad Stadium.

With John Stones (£5.1m) serving the last of his three-match ban, the Manchester City manager has chosen three centre-backs in Nathan Aké (£5.4m), Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) and Ruben Dias (£6.0m).

Two wing-backs appear in the team, namely João Cancelo (£5.8m) and Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) but Rodrigo (£5.3m) is the only recognised central midfielder.

Wingers Ferran Torres (£6.9m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.0m) also start as well as two centre-forwards in Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.1m).

Chelsea’s line-up is more straight forward as Thomas Tuchel goes with his usual 3-4-3 although there are key absences there too.

Mason Mount (£7.3m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) miss out on the matchday squad entirely while Kai Havertz (£8.3m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.3m) drop to the bench.

César Azpilicueta (£5.9m) is in the back-three with Andreas Christensen (£4.7m) and Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m) while Reece James (£5.1m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) are in the wing-back roles. The latter makes only his second start since Gameweek 31.

Billy Gilmour (£4.3m) earns back-to-back league starts and features alongside N’Golo Kanté (£4.9m).

Christian Pulisic (£8.3m) and Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) start either side of Timo Werner (£9.2m) in the front-three.

Triple Gameweek 35 Line-ups

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Ake, Mendy, Rodrigo, Torres, Sterling, Aguero, Jesus.

Chelsea XI: E Mendy; Rüdiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Alonso, Kanté, Gilmour, R James; Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech.

Triple Gameweek 35 so far…

Christian Benteke (£5.5m) opened the scoring as Crystal Palace beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

It was his third goal in his last five away matches and he could have walked away from Bramall Lane with more to his name.

The former Liverpool man had one fine effort blocked before the woodwork denied him in the second half.

However, Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) proved to be the star of the show, registering an assist and scoring in the second half to claim maximum bonus points.

By contrast, Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) was relatively peripheral, stationed on the left-hand side of attacking midfield rather than in in his usual out-of-position centre-forward berth.

Meanwhile, there was a clean sheet for Crystal Palace’s defenders, Gary Cahill (£4.5m) benefitting the most thanks to his assist for Eze’s goal while Joel Ward (£4.3m) picked up a first-half yellow card.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Eberechi Eze
  • 2 – Christian Benteke, Gary Cahill

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707 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Crap gw so far

    No Dallas, Son or Bamford

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      I sold Bamford and Son for DCL and Greenwood. And I benched Dallas of course.

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Bench for Bam for me

  2. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Why isn't Mount in the squad?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      No news.

    2. GinjaWhinja
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Been working overtime and needed it. Much needed rest, just like Thiago Silva is not in the squad either.

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    How are Man City setting up? Where are the central midfielders? Is Cancelo playing CM?

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Ake playing as DM

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Not so sure about that? Back 3 with Mendy and Cancelo as WB’s seems more likely. Or even Cancelo in the Mid before Ake

        1. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Yeah livescore showed 3-5-2 but they never played that before. The pre match show i'm watching showed Ake mid, we shall find out soon.

  4. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Is Forster first choice?

    1. bigwig
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      No, he says he's going to rotate for the remainder

  5. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Mount not even playing - waste of BB

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Because if you didn't play it this week you would play in it in one of the singles?

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Because the whole point of BB is to get points from all 15 players.

        1. GinjaWhinja
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          He was due a rest but it's sods law it's today. Just brush it off, 90% of people have ballsed-up their bench boosts also so don't fret!

        2. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          He has another gamec

          1. el polako
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 3 days ago

            That's if he plays.
            Tuchel seems to have Peps complex.

            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 3 days ago

              I'm sure he will , was due a rest wasn't he

    2. SEXY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Think of me, my BB got me a solitary extra 1 point LOL

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Lowton to the rescue;)

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        🙂 Thought I was unlucky getting 10 from mine.

    3. Essan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Could be worse - I know someone who played BB last week and ended up with only 9 players getting points for a grand total of 28pts (not me!))

  6. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Is Dallas with 8 goals the highest goalscoring defender ever? Just goals not points.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Define defender, and no, not even close

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        FPL defender. Most goals in a season I mean.

      2. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Not even close? Do have any stats to back that up, champ?

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          No he doesnt. Dallas is joint top with lescott in terms of fpl defenders

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 3 days ago

            So Ginkapo full of bs, as usual.

    2. SEXY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Baines

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Plus Ivanovic, Alonso, Huth etc

        1. SEXY SALAH
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Vidic probably came close too!

        2. Chandler Bing
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Alonso got 7 in his best season. Ivanovic 5. Not sure about Huth but I'm certain it must be below 8.

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Suspect Baines still holds that .

      Then again , there was the season Bale was a Lb in fpl

      1. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Good shout

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Baines not even close.

        Best season was 5 goals.

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Really. I'm shocked

        2. SEXY SALAH
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          It is surprising, the OP may have a point!

        3. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          6 goals, 2 assists back in 2103/14 according to PL

      3. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Bale only played the end of the season oop and didnt score that many back then

    4. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Lescott got 8 once. That was the highest. So dallas is joint top now

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Not a defender really so doubt he qualifies for any record outside FPL. Think it might be John Terry with 6.

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Yeah, only talking about FPL here.

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Lescott at everton fot 8 from real life defenders

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          That's some record

    6. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      I know it doesn’t count but what a season that was when Steve Bruce banged in 19 ( yes nineteen!) goals

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Wow, that is some feat. Was he on pens? Crazy for a CB to get 19.

      2. LegendMoon
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Ok only 13 in the league but amazing nonetheless

        1. LegendMoon
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Yep on pens, just absolutely hoofed the ball, if the keeper got behind it he was in the back of the net too!

      3. Big Mac 24
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        I think that was in all games, yet the 13 he scored in the league is still bonkers for a centre back!

  7. Captain Haddock
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Guaita-Ward-Mitchell on BB. That went well!

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Good call.

    2. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Risky but paid off!

      1. Captain Haddock
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Chasing and needed some cheap substitutes. I have been a bit unlucky especially with my captains, this time got lucky.

        1. Bleh
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 days ago

          Nice one, wish I had a bit more faith too. Have Guaita but left Ward on the bench for Zaha (what a great decision that turned out to be).

    3. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Nice, almost the same as me (Zaha not Mitchell)

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Nice one! Good call on the BB

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      How did you do it though, hits or WC beforehand?

  8. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Chances of Gundo coming on for a 1 minute cameo? Opponent has Dallas first on bench...

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      High

  9. grooveymatt65
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Aguero worth it for the run in?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Worth considering imo

    2. Our Tiny Windows
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Possibly last chance to ever own him.

    3. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      I was planning to bring in as a final week flurry - but I think we may already have missed out on the fun if we leave it until then.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Agree

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 days ago

          Though… missed pens aren’t all that much fun!

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 days ago

            Even the best miss sometimes

    4. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Yes indeed

  10. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Chances of Jota starting tonight?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      High I think. Then benched vs MAN

    2. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      50-50

    3. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      High

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Doubt it personally unless he goes with the less than Fab 4 approach again.

      See two appearances off the bench

    5. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      About 75%give or take 25% !

  11. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Oh God, I benched Dallas and played Cancelo, now after Dallas performance I hoped the city roulette will affect me but not happening, also have Rudiger playing........ Just looking for perfect spot for me to hide.

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Happens to the best of us. 0-0 would be the perfect tonic for you.

  12. Phlajo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    How was Mitchell playing? Good enough to start next game?

    Loving the 6 points right now 🙂 Had him as an enabler last on bench since WC, and suddenly he's useful!

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Pretty well, albeit against a rubbish team. I'm happy enough with the 6pts but yeah, decent chance he gets more. Played him over Holgate, so still don't know if it was the right decision though.

  13. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Picking City players on free hit next week will be a stress.

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Pep hates us.

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      I just hope my mini league rivals mess up with their choices.

      1. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        They also hope the same for you.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Just go for Torres, Jesus or Aguero and Mendy or Ederson and you'll be ok.

      Or punt on Sterling?

    4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Aguero should play every game till the end of the season.

    5. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Aguero and Torres are pretty safe bets I’d say

  14. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Vardy return- check
    Guaita clean sheet- check
    Pulisic starting- Check!

    1. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Good luck! The pulisic pick was a brave one

  15. Our Tiny Windows
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Sounds like I’m the only person that played Dallas.

    1. Our Tiny Windows
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Sounds like a brag.

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Don't start

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Yeah, must be just me and you. 8,218,118 peeps don't share our brilliance/good fortune.

  16. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    4 played, 3 returned. 1 who did not return: of course the one who is leading the goal scorers' table.

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Slight brag, but peppered with a bit of deprecation 😉
      Joking mate - good results so far - bol for the rest!

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Rudiger concedes. Going how my previous 3 GWs have gone. Good start which just fizzles out!

  17. LegendMoon
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    There was always going to be a major player rested from either side in this match, now both managers can point to this if they lose and say how things will be different in the champions league final!

  18. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Both rehersing for the 0-0 draw in final

  19. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Chelsea as bad as City for rotation

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Gonna be worse next season when they have an even bigger squad!

  20. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    can't believe I don't have anyone playing in this game

  21. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Where is KDB?

    If he’s rested, should he not be an auto pick in our FH teams next week?

  22. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Cannot believe ones still have chips at this stage of the season. Feels almost casual to be still siting on them..

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Any other season and it would've been a casual move. However, with so many cancellations this time, it made a lot of sense.

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Not really mate, it’s called planning ahead

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Lol, someone's jelly! It's called strategizing, mate!

    4. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Using triple captain chip this week, but still got wildcard to play. Woo.

  23. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    I just told my guy, that the game's started, but Mount's being rested. He's like "What? Been arrested?!" Lol.

  24. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    City I can understand but Chelsea lol why they are not playing strongest team? They may lose Champions league final and out of top 4

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Not tipping their hand for the CL, maybe?

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      They have a DGW and an FA Cup final next weekend.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Does the UCL winner get automatic qualification?

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Yes chel won ucl the season they finished 6th

      2. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        Yes. UEL winners qualify for UCL too.

  25. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Sterling would be a great differential for end of season but has just been so poor in front of goal of late, I couldn't trust him at all.

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      I'd rather Auba tbh. Better fixtures, on pens and would look to get back in form to continue it next season.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      So what you're saying is he'd be a great pick if he had goals, assists, baps and ****.

      Gotcha.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 days ago

        He can't tackle for sure

  26. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Conceeeeeedeeeeee

  27. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    I'm about to jinx this, but a 2-1 City win -- with a goal from Rudiger -- would be nice.

    City takes the title and I get 6 points out of this. Win-win.

  28. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Sterred?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 days ago

      Lucky boy YC

  29. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Sterling lucky there

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 days ago

    Daily Mail wet dream...