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
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Crap gw so far

    No Dallas, Son or Bamford

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bench for Bam for me

  2. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why isn't Mount in the squad?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No news.

    2. GinjaWhinja
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ake playing as DM

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months 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
          2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Forster first choice?

    1. bigwig
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

  5. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mount not even playing - waste of BB

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

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

        1. GinjaWhinja
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months 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
          2 years, 10 months ago

          He has another gamec

          1. el polako
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

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

            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

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

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lowton to the rescue;)

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        🙂 Thought I was unlucky getting 10 from mine.

    3. Essan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Define defender, and no, not even close

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        FPL defender. Most goals in a season I mean.

      2. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

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

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

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

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            So Ginkapo full of bs, as usual.

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Baines

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Plus Ivanovic, Alonso, Huth etc

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Vidic probably came close too!

        2. Chandler Bing
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Suspect Baines still holds that .

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

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Good shout

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Baines not even close.

        Best season was 5 goals.

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Really. I'm shocked

        2. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          It is surprising, the OP may have a point!

        3. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

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

      3. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

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

    4. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah, only talking about FPL here.

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lescott at everton fot 8 from real life defenders

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          That's some record

    6. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

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

      2. LegendMoon
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ok only 13 in the league but amazing nonetheless

        1. LegendMoon
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Good call.

    2. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Risky but paid off!

      1. Captain Haddock
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months 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
          2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nice one! Good call on the BB

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

  8. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      High

  9. grooveymatt65
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Aguero worth it for the run in?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Worth considering imo

    2. Our Tiny Windows
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Possibly last chance to ever own him.

    3. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Agree

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

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

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Even the best miss sometimes

    4. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes indeed

  10. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chances of Jota starting tonight?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      High I think. Then benched vs MAN

    2. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      50-50

    3. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      High

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

      About 75%give or take 25% !

  11. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

  12. Phlajo
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pep hates us.

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

      1. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        They also hope the same for you.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

    5. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero and Torres are pretty safe bets I’d say

  14. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. LegendMoon
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Good luck! The pulisic pick was a brave one

  15. Our Tiny Windows
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

    1. Our Tiny Windows
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sounds like a brag.

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Don't start

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

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

  17. LegendMoon
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Both rehersing for the 0-0 draw in final

  19. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea as bad as City for rotation

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

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

  21. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not really mate, it’s called planning ahead

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

    4. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

  23. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not tipping their hand for the CL, maybe?

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

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

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Does the UCL winner get automatic qualification?

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yes chel won ucl the season they finished 6th

      2. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yes. UEL winners qualify for UCL too.

  25. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months 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
      2 years, 10 months 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
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He can't tackle for sure

  26. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Conceeeeeedeeeeee

  27. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months 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
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterred?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lucky boy YC

  29. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling lucky there

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Daily Mail wet dream...