Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are options for Manchester City in defence as Pep Guardiola tries to work around his defensive injury crisis.
With Aymeric Laporte and John Stones both out injured City have been left with one recognised first team centre back, with Fernandinho having to slot in defence against Shakhtar.
The Brazilian impressed in the 3-0 win in Ukraine on Wednesday but Guardiola explained he has other options available should he need them.
"We don't have many options," Guardiola said about his defence ahead of the home clash against Watford. "We have Rodri and two young players who we trust a lot.
"Eric (Garcia) has been training with us, Taylor (Harwood-Bellis) - we will count on them. It's not a problem it's a challenge, I don't see it as a problem. We have to accept it and handle it. You have to be positive, if we do it and be happy and work hard."
The players arrived back from Ukraine on Thursday and Guardiola said he would assess his team during Friday's afternoon training session before making a decision on his team.
"Yesterday we came back and we'll see today how they feel ahead of the selection tomorrow," he said.
City will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after defeat to Norwich last time out but Guardiola said he has not been dwelling on the defeat and was not disappointed with his team's performance.
"I think after what happened in the last years, we have to try to take perspective over what they've done," Guardiola said. "I didn't have doubts about the team, the performance was even better. We can lose. It's your problem if you believe we cannot lose.
"Before every game we can lose, we have to have that feeling. We lose one in the Premier League in eight months. Sometimes the opponent can be better or more precise. But I didn't have doubts after one defeat what the reaction would be. They've shown it many times in many years."
Kazbeinoz
2
we should test Philliper Sandler he is the best center we are under rating
dramar
0
you know what this means right? pep is gonna sign koulibaly in the winter
Gapjust
1
That's cool. But wait till City plays Liverpool and Bernardo goes into a 2 footed leg breaker on VVD and injures him for the entire season and Liverpools win rate drops to 40%
tallesti
0
I think Pep’s having Fernandinho play CB next game so maybe that will help
sadistic
0
Teams like Mancity and Liverpool press high in order to reduce the pressure for their defence. Defenders alone not their main defense factor
blackhappy
0
Easy to explain. Otamendi is absolute garbage, makes errors constantly. Stones, like some others have said is good but he needs a leader next to him, somebody more sturdy than he is, so he can take risks. With Stones and Otamendi you have two error prone CBs. They will suffer at the back without Laporte, but they may still score enough that it won't matter.
luncheon
0
Matip is probably a better example
KAHN001
0
Good enough to win the league in your face twice though.
taxation
0
Pep should just start Stones with Fernandinho and call it a day
Martorella
0
And not getting a replacement in for Kompany looks to be a serious error.
Lucymed
0
He was also seen as the leader in the Southampton defence (by us at least), and was bought in to be exactly that for Skrtel/Sakho.
easyde
0
Rodri isn't very good 1v1.When you play next to a psychopath like Ota you end up in a lot of 1v1s.
horse
0
Well this at least puts paid to the idea that Stones and Otamendi have never played together
ssuolow
0
They should've got Koulibaly in to replace Kompany.
junction
0
68% win rate for playing what was 3rd and 4th choice centrebacks aint bad tbh
Tylerddr
0
With Laporte being one of the best centre-backs in world football it's not suprising that he can compensate for Stones fairly effectively
pololim
0
Win % doesn't really count for much in defensive stats as you can keep a clean sheet but still not win. The rest of the stats for Stones - Laporte are fucking excellent!
update
0
Only in hindsight. Of Laporte doesn’t get a serious injury this early in the season it would’ve been fine.
opaque
0
Maguire seems very well adjusted. Love how close him and his family is...
hoverday
0
I clearly didn't say keep a clean sheet and lose pal, I mean just stop with this it's sad now.
Codilra
0
I said you can keep a clean sheet and still not win, to which you replied "you've convinced me Pep would prefer them to play well whilst losing the game"
Sallyy
0
Pep wouldn’t need to play Laporte in every game of the season. Playing stones and otamendi is not only not awful, especially if done in the league, but we also have a youngster whose name is escaping me, and Fernandinho/walker who with some practice, can definitely cover occasionally. And yes, we have too many international players. However, I think we didn’t want to pay that much for Maguire and went into the season hoping it would be fine.
Lorenlous
0
Sagna was injured half (most?) the year and Zaba was aging and needing coverage frequently. Navas made probably 10 to 15 appearances at RB Pep’s first year.
bigfcber
0
Everyone taking note from Rafas formula to beat city
Kaablot
0
use the youngsters pep, nobody will blame you coz it is for the future good of the club, we can't win all the time but we must build for the future. you are too cautious and risk averse, aiming to be perfect all the time!
thedevilsfan000
2
Hunbiklsz
0
thi will be the line up and I think Eric Garcia should start as well
IamChuksokoye
1
Pep this season we will bring the EPL trophy at ANFIELD So forget about EPL pep Mr show off
I hope you red fans will not hide your faces in shame when things turn around. we know u guys as bottlers as far as we are concerned
Sandokan
0
This would be best...
[image]
are you kidding
Badshahking
3
Pep this season we will bring the EPL trophy at ANFIELD So forget about EPL pep Mr show off
winbilotz
3
This would be best...
McNahomShady
4
Walker has played at CB for England, why not play him there and give Cancelo a first team place?
United Kingdom6877317
0
Give both the chance correct decision to make pep we believe in our family we will bounce back like we did on Donetsk people forget we are back to back champions fa cup community shield we lose one game out 100 maybe 2 who cares about the one game time to prove what we did last year when we last lost to Newcastle win win win mcfc champions
MoazzamBaloch
0
I think it will a Wise Decision. Give them a Chance, We never know, they can turn Out to be Very Good Defender at a Young Age. And also the Time is Nice, Pep can place them in the Starting XI against Watford with Rodri. Because they should Start against a Weak team in Order to Test them
Yeah. Eric Garcia was the brightest central defender to come from La Masia since Pique. He was really good in B team. He deserves minutes
basketballer
5
I think it will a Wise Decision. Give them a Chance, We never know, they can turn Out to be Very Good Defender at a Young Age. And also the Time is Nice, Pep can place them in the Starting XI against Watford with Rodri. Because they should Start against a Weak team in Order to Test them
mayackor
0
Starting 11 for next match .
ritbcnoptu
1
Garcia and Tylor i trust them
rihcknopr
1
Eric Gercia try and try ⚽⚽
Ziobemoty
1
I like this “ its your problem wen yu think we don’t lose “ kkk and dats real truth any1 can be defeated dats why ey play
sgl
1
rodri:complete DM 💪🏻👏🏻
man-C-fr-lif
4
by the way , most happiest man on earth right now will be 👇😞
Harish_leø
0
But any of them don't trust of winning an UCL
AdedejiDaniel
2
what I want to know is if Mendy is starting ..he is in my FPL team