Pep Guardiola says Nathan Ake will replace Bernardo Silva at left-back as he named a strong Manchester City side to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
Without Kevin de Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte through illness, Guardiola drafted in Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, moving Bernardo Silva forward after four games at left-back. Guardiola had praised Bernardo in that role, insisting that Saturday's equaliser for Nottingham Forest was not his fault, despite it coming down the left, and signalled that it was a system that would be used again.
However, it was a more familiar City back four named at Leipzig, and Guardiola explained his reasons for switching back to a back four.
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Speaking to BT Sport, Guardiola said: "This 11 are trying to do a good game, a good result. We have a game plan, we see what happens.
"Always we play a back four, defend in a back four. Different players, Kevin isn't here, Aymer isn't here. We decide to play this lineup nothing special."
Guardiola then confirmed that Ake would be a more conventional left-back, pushing Bernardo back into midfield in De Bruyne's absence. He also explained why Phil Foden dropped out after making his return at Forest, saying: "He played really good but Riyad [Mahrez] played good too and we decide for him.
"Leipzig play all players inside, balls inside, runners in the channel. Typical the culture of Leipzig, Salzburg and New York, all teams have it's patterns. [It will be a fast game] if we let them run, in Germany if you lose balls in uncertain positions, allow them to run, they are unstoppable."
Manchester City's starting line-up vs RB Leipzig: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji; Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez.
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