Pep Guardiola revealed in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that he has just 14 fit senior Manchester City players to from, for the upcoming game against Sporting Lisbon.
The Sky Blues head into Wednesday’s Champions League match with a 5-0 advantage from the first leg of the last-16 tie.
It should be a strong enough lead to mean City’s injury problems don’t affect their passage to the quarter-finals, however, Guardiola will have to put out an unorthodox side to face the Portuguese champions.
The City boss said Joao Cancelo is unavailable due to illness, and he didn’t take part in Tuesday’s pre-match training session.
Guardiola also explained it is ‘too risky’ for Nathan Ake to feature following a recent injury, with Ruben Dias a long-term concern at the heart of defence.
Kyle Walker is also suspended for the second leg following his dismissal in the group stages against RB Leipzig, something Guardiola is still evidently furious about.
It leaves the Premier League champions with just three fit defenders to operate with, and he’ll either have to move a more offensive player into the backline, or select a youth-team prospect.
Here’s how we think he’ll line up against Sporting…
1. Ederson
Likely to play with Zack Steffen still absent. The Brazilian was also selected as the player for the pre-match press conference, normally an indication he will start.
2. John Stones
Could be moved to right-back with Cancelo and Walker out, although Guardiola might opt to select Luke Mbete in defence.
3. Fernandinho
If Stones is pushed out wide, then Fernandinho may be asked to fill in at the heart of defence, a position he occupied regularly in the 2019/20 campaign.
4. Aymeric Laporte
Played in the last five and that isn’t expected to change at the Etihad in midweek. In Dias’s absence, Laporte will marshal the backline.