Manchester City have a defensive injury crisis, but it presents a massive opportunity for Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake to step up and become heroes.
26.04.2022 - 22:13 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Pep Guardiola revealed John Stones declared himself fit for Manchester City on Tuesday to play at right-back against Real Madrid, but Kyle Walker is still not recovered from injury.
Stones limped off against Brighton last week and didn't face Watford at the weekend. He had not been seen in training since that Brighton win, and was absent when City's Monday training session was open to members of the media, plus photographers and camera operators, for the first 15 minutes.
However, Stones was fit enough to be named in the City team to face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first-leg at the Etihad, where he plays at right-back with Kyle Walker injured and Joao Cancelo suspended.
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Speaking to BT Sport, Guardiola said before the game that Stones was well enough to play after talking with the defender on Tuesday.
"John he adapts, the position isn't natural, it's a tough opponent," said Guardiola. "He felt good, yesterday Kyle didn't feel good. We spoke and he said I'm good.
"[The schedule] is what is is, these stages, for all the tough season for all the teams, of course for the yellow cards. It happens, adjust, adapt, we do our best.
"We must adapt to Rodrygo, Casimero on the bench, they have some problems. We spoke and said this is an option for them playing Valverde in case Casimero not fit, or maybe Camavinga. Whatever they do we try to win the game."
Manchester City have a defensive injury crisis, but it presents a massive opportunity for Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake to step up and become heroes.
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Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight at 8pm (UK time). The two sides met at this stage of the competition in 2016 with Los Blancos advancing to the final after beating City 1-0 on aggregate.
Pep Guardiola says he will have to play at least one player out of position to solve his defensive problems in tomorrow night's Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid. The Manchester City boss will give John Stones and Kyle Walker until tomorrow morning to prove their fitness, with the suspension of Joao Cancelo meaning they could be left without any senior players who have played right back.
Oleks Zinchenko’s performance against Watford has partially solved Manchester City’s defensive crisis for the visit of Real Madrid on Tuesday. But Pep Guardiola still faces a major problem at right back — and suggested Saturday’s headline-grabbing hero Gabriel Jesus could be the man to solve it.
Pep Guardiola says he could re-think his preference of working with a small squad, with Manchester City stretched by injury at the business end of the season. Problems for John Stones, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake, plus Joao Cancelo’s suspension means the Blues could be down to just three fit defenders for the visit of Real Madrid on Tuesday.
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