Manchester City: Playing Bravo in derby not a huge gamble for Guardiola
Claudio Bravo looks set to make his Manchester City debut against Manchester United in the Manchester derby on Saturday.
Claudio Bravo has barely trained with his new Manchester City teammates, never mind played a game yet. However, Pep Guardiola is prepared to throw the Chilean into a feisty derby game against Manchester United, according to multiple reports.
The move is described as a derby debut from hell in some quarters and a baptism of fire in others. But, though the selection would be a gamble of sorts, it’s not the huge gamble it’s being made out to be. It’s not exactly a journey to hell in handbasket.
It’s a gamble due to Bravo’s lack of training and lack of familiarity with his new teammates. As a goalkeeper, communication is all important and the communication will have to be constant for things to go well at Old Trafford.
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It is not a gamble due to the game, occasion or atmosphere, however. This is a 33-year-old veteran we’re talking about here. It’s not a 19-year-old rookie playing his first senior season at the highest level.
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Bravo has arrived at Manchester City from Barcelona – the reigning champions of Spain. One of the very biggest clubs in the world. A club who perennially make the semi-finals and beyond in the Champions League.
The way some people are building up the prospect of Bravo playing in this game you would think he’d come from the amateurs. He’s a veteran who’s played for Barcelona in games against Real Madrid as the club’s number one goalkeeper. He’s totally accustomed to pressure. It’s nothing new, whatsoever.
Bravo has captained his country, Chile, who he has over 100 caps for, since 2008. Leading La Roja to two Copa America titles and to qualification for two World Cups. The occasion of the Manchester derby will be nothing extraordinary to Bravo.
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That doesn’t mean he’ll play the game of his life with his sunglasses on and a cigar on tap. But whatever happens, it’s not because of the the occasion or the atmosphere. Bravo is obviously known for being one of the best goalkeepers in the world with the ball at his feet. So he’ll be extremely calm playing that way in the derby. It’s all he knows, really.
His composure on the ball is matched by his composure off of it, too, with Bravo known for his consistency. Mistakes happen to all goalkeepers, but very rarely in Bravo’s case. If this was a goalkeeper of lesser standing and lesser experience, then maybe the risk level would be high for Pep Guardiola. But that’s not the case.
Of course, there is talk of United targeting Bravo at corners and set-pieces, giving him an aggressive welcome to the Premier League. It sounds like something Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce would do.
The tactic might well be successful. But it might not be, either. You can’t hang your hat on corners, can you? The game is bigger than that, and all things considered, playing Bravo would only be a mild risk for City. Nothing more.
If Bravo does play and have a bad game, then he’s just played a bad game. It happens. The atmosphere? The occasion? The game itself? It’s a new experience. But nothing he wont take in his stride.
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