Pep Guardiola has identified Fernandinho and Bacary Sagna as possible replacements for the injured Vincent Kompany in the centre of the Manchester City defence but has ruled out using Yaya Toure as an emergency centre-back.
Club captain Kompany has been ruled out for up to six weeks with the knee injury he suffered in a collision with City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Kompany suffered his 35th injury during an eight-year City career when he has been sidelined for about two-and-a-half years. He has now undergone a scan.
“It is a ligament injury and he will be out for four-to-six weeks,” Guardiola said.
The City manager only has two fit senior centre-backs in his squad, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, but has also used left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in the middle of the back four and he feels right-back Sagna and midfielder Fernandinho are the best candidates to stand in as central defenders.
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He deployed Toure as a centre-back for Barcelona’s 2009 Uefa Champions League final win over Manchester United but stressed that was a one-off.
Toure scored twice at Selhurst Park as he made his first league appearance of the season after being sidelined because of a row between his agent, Dimitri Seluk, and Guardiola.
And the Catalan wants to use his attacking qualities again.
“What happened with Yaya in Barcelona happened once in the final of the Champions League because we had a lot of [injury] problems there, we didn’t have [fit] players and he played amazing,” he said. “Now Yaya is going to play in more offensive terms.
“We have other options [in defence]: Fernandinho can play there, Sagna can play there. At Crystal Palace, after one and a half months out injured, Bacary played central defender for many minutes. He played awesome.”
City will assess Sergio Aguero, who took a kick to his foot in the final minutes of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, to see if he is fit to face Burnley on Saturday.
Guardiola is bracing himself for a tough test against Sean Dyche’s team, who have proved difficult opponents for top teams.
“We cannot forget they beat Liverpool,” he said. “They lost in the 93rd minute against Arsenal. They drew at Old Trafford. What they do, they do really well.”
Guardiola was in upbeat mood as he reflected on a week when City qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.
“Always I am optimistic but now better than ever about my team and what we can do this season,” he said.
Guardiola also reiterated that he hopes Lionel Messi remains at Barcelona for the rest of his career, rather than joining City.
The five-time World Player of the Year, who excelled for Guardiola at the Camp Nou, has long been linked with City, especially since his mentor was appointed manager at the Etihad Stadium.
“Messi will stay in Barcelona and he will finish his career in Barcelona,” he said. “It is my wish.”
He also paid tribute to the retiring Steven Gerrard, adding: “He is one of the greatest English players ever. Congratulations on a great career. He is definitely one of the best I ever saw.”
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