Manager Pep Guardiola has been left with depleted options in defence after Vincent Kompany moved to Anderlecht while Aymeric Laporte and John Stones have been injured, forcing the Spaniard to start defensive midfielder Fernandinho alongside Nicolas Otamendi at the back.
Guardiola had said prior to the game that City could not afford reinforcements in January, despite spending less than rivals in the summer transfer window. “They bought Aymeric Laporte in January a year and a half ago, and I feel that they’re going to have to do the same again. Guardiola had also vowed to stick with youngsters Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia – both of whom started and helped keep a clean sheet in City’s third-round victory over Preston in the League Cup.