Pep Guardiola admits injury crisis may see Man City players in ‘positions they are not used to’ vs Real Madrid

City are also set to be without Joao Cancelo for the first leg due to suspension.
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Pep Guardiola has admitted some of his players could have to play in positions they are ‘not used’ to in Manchester City’s clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Los Blancos travel to the Etihad for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, with doubts surrounding the fitness of several defenders.

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Kyle Walker and John Stones missed Saturday’s win over Watford due to injury, while Nathan Ake came off the bench despite Pep Guardiola claiming after the game that the former Bournemouth man is suffering from an ankle issue.

Kyle Walker and John Stones are both doubts for the semi-final first leg. Credit: Getty.Kyle Walker and John Stones are both doubts for the semi-final first leg. Credit: Getty.
Kyle Walker and John Stones are both doubts for the semi-final first leg. Credit: Getty.

Meanwhile, City are set to be without Joao Cancelo for the first leg due to suspension, leaving Guardiola with just three fully fit defenders in Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Oleksandr Zinchenko, despite the City boss speaking at length at the weekend about how the latter is not a natural defender.

But Guardiola still has hope that some of his defensive options will recover in time for the first leg against Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Speaking ahead of the game, the City manager said: “We have a training session this afternoon and we will see the players who are doubts and how they feel.

Pep Guardiola admitted he is not sure who will be fit to play in defence. Credit: Getty. Pep Guardiola admitted he is not sure who will be fit to play in defence. Credit: Getty.
Pep Guardiola admitted he is not sure who will be fit to play in defence. Credit: Getty.
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“Tonight, tomorrow morning we have time to decide the line-up and I have to wait for the training session to decide. But I’m pretty sure the players will have to play in positions they are not used to. They are going to do their best, I don’t have doubts about that.

Asked to clarify about the fitness of Walker and Stones, Guardiola expanded: “They are doubts. They didn’t train, Kyle in the last week, 10 days, and John since Brighton [last Wednesday].

“Today in the training session, I do not know who will come out, and see how they feel. Tomorrow we will speak to them and see how they feel and take a decision.”