Unless you've had your head in the sand for the past week or so, you'll know that Manchester City face a potentially season-defining run of fixtures after the international break.
After a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Saturday, Pep Guardiola's side will face Atletico Madrid and Liverpool twice each across three different competitions during an 11-day period.
The first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against the Spanish side on April 5 is followed by a top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool on April 10. Just three days later the Blues will be in Madrid for the second leg before walking out at Wembley on April 16 for an FA Cup semi-final against Jurgen Klopp's side.
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For a run of games that could define what has been a brilliant campaign so far, City will need to be at their best. For that to happen, Guardiola must address a few issues.
Asserting control
City's 15-game unbeaten run that saw them establish a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League table was built largely on suffocating their opponents out of matches by starving them of the ball and preventing counter-attacks. In other words, City were always in control.
However, since January that quality has been a little lacking in City's performances, most recently in the cup win at Southampton. Guardiola's side rode out 4-1 winners, but for a 20-minute spell at the end of the first half the Blues looked overwhelmed and unable to handle the hosts.
Kevin de Bruyne put those struggles down to the players making "too many stupid mistakes" and choosing the "wrong options," but there is an argument that when the Belgian starts in City's midfield three, the Blues look more adventurous but a little less controlled.
City were super in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool earlier in the season, barely allowing the hosts a sniff in the first half by keeping possession and playing out of their press. City need to do similar in the upcoming league and cup meetings; if they try and match Liverpool's 100mph style then they will come out second best.
Breaching low blocks
Having to unpick deep-lying defences is part-and-parcel of being a City player, and it's something the Blues have managed without difficulty for much of this season. However, in recent games - like the 1-0 win at Everton and the 3-2 home defeat to Spurs - City's array of attacking talent struggled to create many clear opportunities. In the latter, City took 21 shots on goal but only two of them were classed as big chances.
Things have improved of late, but now the issue seems to be poor finishing after creating chances. In the recent 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace City created four big chances and registered an xG rating of 3.05, yet couldn't score.
When Atletico Madrid visit the Etihad next week, City will likely come up against another compact defence camped at the edge of the box. To avoid Champions League heartbreak, the players must find ways through or Guardiola will have to come up with a tactical tweak or two.
Defensive decisions
City are blessed with options in central defence, but when Ruben Dias returns from injury, Guardiola will face a selection dilemma.
It's widely accepted that John Stones and Aymeric Laporte are City's best ball-playing centre-backs, and that both have played with each other enough to build a good understanding. However, against Southampton the City backline looked ropey at times, as if it were missing the leadership and organisation of Dias.
It should also be said that Nathan Ake has impressed in recent cameos, although he is behind the other three in the pecking order.
Dias is more of an all-action leader type defender, while Stones and Laporte are better at building attacks from the back. For what could be four of the toughest games of the season, Guardiola will have to decide which quality is more important.
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