Whatever the reasons for Ruben Dias only making the bench against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola was only able to do so because of the quality of his other centre-backs.
John Stones returned to the Manchester City team after four games out and slotted straight in, but there was no need for an adjustment period with Aymeric Laporte. With Dias sitting one out, his Spanish teammate becomes the defender with the longest ongoing streak in the Premier League after starting the last eight matches.
Laporte has still featured less frequently in both the league and in all competitions than Dias or Joao Cancelo, but he is much closer to them this season; last year 13 outfield players were used more than him but this time it is only Dias, Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Rodri.
