Pep Guardiola has suggested Ruben Dias wasn't dropped for Nathan Ake in Manchester City's rout over Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday - but for Manuel Akanji.
Dias was a surprise omission in the City starting XI, in a team sheet that saw Kyle Walker return from injury at right-back. With John Stones injured, and Aymeric Laporte only fit enough for the bench, Guardiola chose a centre-back pairing of Akanji and Ake.
That meant Dias sat the game out, with Ake another returning from injury and impressing as City ran out comfortable 6-3 winners, going 4-0 and 6-1 ahead in the game. Explaining his selection after the match, Guardiola said his desire to have a left-footer alongside a right-footer was behind his selection.
