Manchester City have been forced into a tactical reshuffle with Kevin De Bruyne out injured for tonight’s Champions League game at RB Leipzig.
Both the Belgian midfielder and Aymeric Laporte have not travelled to Germany for the last-16 first leg after missing training on Tuesday morning.
“Kevin and Laporte [are absent with] illness,” said Pep Guardiola.
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“They are not ready. It is what it is. During the season, unfortunately sometimes that happens.
“[De Bruyne] didn’t feel good right after the game against Nottingham. Yesterday Aymer didn’t feel well. Other players are going to play. That happens sometimes.”
Guardiola has therefore decided to freshen up his XI, which may was already on the cards after several missed chances led to City dropping points away to Nottingham Forest on the weekend.
Phil Foden made his return to the team in Riyad Mahrez’s place at the City Ground but drops back to the bench tonight.
At the back, John Stones is closing in on his recovery from a thigh injury but is not yet available. Manuel Akanji earns a recall as Guardiola reverts away from his new 3-2-4-1 tactical variation which had seen Bernardo Silva slot in as a roaming left-back.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Gundogan, Rodri, Silva; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.
Subs: Ortega , Carson, Phillips, Alvarez, Gomez, Perrone, Foden, Charles, Palmer, Lewis, Robertson.
