Pep Guardiola confirmed both John Stones and Bernardo Silva are available for Manchester City’s Champions League trip to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
The pair missed last weekend’s shock defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and have not featured in recent weeks due to injury. Silva hasn’t played since the win over Red Star Belgrade in the first group-stage game, while Stones has only played once all season. But both were named in City’s travelling squad for the flight to Germany and could play against Leipzig.
“They feel better, Bernardo better than John,” Guardiola said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. Both travel and we are going to decide tomorrow.
“[I’m] really happy that they’re back. John couldn’t play one minute this season [in the league] and Bernardo had a pre-season with the birth of his beautiful daughter and also was injured a little bit, with disruptions, which made it a little bit longer. But they’re back which is good news for us.”
It means that Kevin De Bruyne is City’s only absentee for the second group-stage encounter of the season, with Rodri available in Europe despite his domestic suspension for the Blues.
“Tomorrow Rodri is going to play the game and then I give him a rest,” Guardiola revealed. “He will go to Madrid for four or five days before the national team in the international break.”
In the midst of a busy run of fixtures, Guardiola may opt to make a few changes at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday - we’re backing him to make three from the weekend loss against Wolves. Here’s how City could line up…
1. GK: Ederson
Played in the previous Champions League game, the home win over Red Star.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Has missed just one match so far this season and will almost certainly start in Germany.
3. CB: Manuel Akanji
Started at centre-back at the weekend and may keep his place on Wednesday.
4. CB: Ruben Dias
Was selected to conduct the pre-match press conference, often a sign a player will start the subsequent match.