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How to play as Manchester City in FIFA 18
Tips to help you guide Pep Guardiola's side to success in Career Mode and beyond.
We've already told you how to play as Manchester United in FIFA 18, and now we've got a guide to getting the most out of their noisy neighbours. With an array of attacking talent, it looks like Manchester City will be Mourinho's main rivals for the title this season.
City have an unbelievable squad, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané creating chances for the deadly Agüero and Gabriel Jesus to bang in. The Sky Blues also have more players than Man Utd in the FIFA Top 100, but how do you make them play as a team?
That's something that even Pep Guardiola found tricky last season, but we've got some key tips on the formations, lineups and tactics that will lead Man City to victory in FIFA 18. Take our suggestions on board, and the club will soon be in need of a new trophy cabinet!
What formation should you play?
Choose between Agüero and Jesus in a 4-3-3
© EA Sports
4-1-2-1-2 Wide
Touré can be utilised in a CDM role, while Kevin De Bruyne or David Silva are both excellent choices in attacking midfield. This tactic also allows you to make use of Man City's prolific attacking options, incorporating two wide players and two strikers.
4-3-3 Attack
The 4-3-3 is a natural fit for City, enabling them to make excellent use of their depth in midfield. Our pick of the bunch is the attacking variant, relying on the 89-rated De Bruyne or 87-rated Silva to cause havoc in a CAM position. The 4-3-3 also makes use of Sterling and Sané in their preferred winger positions, as well as integrating two CM roles.
4-5-1
You'll require excellent defensive skills to benefit from the 4-5-1, with just one central midfielder working to support the back four. Despite its defensive fragility, this formation allows for two CAMs to complement two wide midfielders and a sole striker upfront. With De Bruyne and David Silva supporting Sergio Agüero in attack, you'll find it easy to carve out chances.
Which players should you pick?
Aguero is Man City's best striker in FIFA 18
© EA Sports
Defence
In goal, Ederson (83) is slightly better than Claudio Bravo (82). Benjamin Mendy performs much more effectively than his rating (78) suggests at left-back, while Kyle Walker slots perfectly into a right-back role ahead of Danilo. In central defence, Kompany and Otamendi are your two best options, but keep an eye on Stones – his Career Mode ability can skyrocket in future seasons.
Midfield
There's no shortage of talented midfielders in the Man City setup. Sané and Sterling are best employed for pace out wide, while the 84-rated Bernardo Silva trades speed for outstanding dribbling ability. In the centre, De Bruyne suits an attacking role most proficiently, while Gündoğan, Silva, Fernandinho, Touré and Delph are all excellent choices in central midfield.
Attack
City are light on forwards, but they more than make up for it in quality. Sergio Agüero remains the Premier League's top striker in FIFA 18, sporting an overall rating of 89. Brazil international Gabriel Jesus also packs plenty of quality – his 87 pace and dribbling can prove lethal in attack. Ideally, you want to use them both on a regular basis.
What tactics should you use?
Guardiola in FIFA 18 – he looks hard to please
© EA Sports
If your formation suits it, a counter-attacking style of play can work in City's favour due to their pace in attacking positions. However, with City's midfield boasting high-level dribbling and passing stats, a possession-based game is also effective. Generally, Man City's talented squad is highly adaptable, but more direct, long ball styles tend not to suit them.
Player instructions can also give your tactics a boost. Sergio Agüero is excellent when instructing his attacking runs to 'get in behind', and the same can be applied to your two wingers. Don't forget to stick the 'free roam' option on De Bruyne or Silva in CAM, while Kyle Walker best utilises his 93 pace when set to 'always overlap' on the wing.
Touré is City's best free-kick taker
© EA Sports
Finally, don't forget about set pieces. Yaya Touré is the best free-kick taker in the club, while Kevin De Bruyne is also efficient from short or long range. Corners are De Bruyne's speciality – his 83 curve and 90 crossing ability make him a threat from either side. As for penalties, Touré is highly-proficient once more, although Agüero can also prove lethal from 12 yards.
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