Pep Guardiola has confirmed that one of his Manchester City players has been ruled out of the first leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final through injury.
While City, like most top teams, can find a way of managing when they have injuries against a majority of sides, Carlo Ancelotti’s side could exploit the fact that one of their key players will be absent.
Especially considering that the Spanish giants come alive in the Champions League and would be hoping to exact revenge on Manchester City after getting slaughtered 5-1 over two legs last season.
Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has been ruled out of Real Madrid clash through injury
Real Madrid have the quality to deploy one of their players in a certain position just to capitalise on City’s weakness, as they arguably have the best squad in the world.
The club from the Spanish capital are flying in La Liga, sitting pretty at the top of the table with an eight-point advantage over Barcelona. Los Merengues seem to be hitting their stride in recent weeks, scoring 10 goals and only conceding two in their last three outings as well.
Real Madrid might be relieved to discover that Manchester City legend Kyle Walker has been ruled out of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final through injury, as per Pep Guardiola.
“Listen, the doctor said no but Kyle [Walker] is Kyle, has special genetics. But the doctor said to me, it was quite serious but I said, Kyle is Kyle”, Guardiola said about the £50 million man [via HaytersTV].
Recently, Vinicius Junior admitted that the £175,000-a-week (Sport Rac) speedster is the best defender he has ever come up against in his career.
Problem for Pep Guardiola if John Stones is not fit for the Champions League clash
With Walker and Stones currently injured, while Ake also picking up an injury against Arsenal, City’s current back four is set to be Lewis, Akanji, Dias and Gvardiol.
The worry in that backline is Rico Lewis, who is a huge talent but it would be a massive risk for him to go toe-to-toe with arguably the best winger in the world in Vinicius Junior.
As a result, Pep Guardiola would breathe a sigh of relief if Manchester City defender John Stones was fit to face Real Madrid, so either he could come in for Kyle Walker at right-back or Manuel Akanji could be shifted to the position due to his return.