In Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, John Stones started at right-back and Joao Cancelo started at left-back.
But Nathan Ake ended the game on the left after Cancelo was sent off and Rodri ended up a centre-back, so Pep Guardiola’s backline had only one player in their natural position.
Guardiola likes to sign versatile players who can occupy multiple roles in the squad, but it is dangerous having so many square pegs in round holes?
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Pep can’t help having a player sent off, but he did have Sergio Gomez on the bench who could play at left-back. And while Rodri fared well as a makeshift centre-back, Aymeric Laporte was on the bench too.
Guardiola didn’t have Kalvin Phillips who could come in for Rodri either, so City didn’t have a like-for-like replacement to provide protection in front of the defence. Cancelo’s red card caused a lot of problems in regard to tinkering and Pep now has to plan future games without real cover in his position.
Kyle Walker is recovering from a groin injury but is still unavailable. Gomez doesn’t have the trust of his manager to start in the Premier League, so all Pep has are centre-backs moving out wide which could limit City’s attacking threat on the flanks.
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