Pep Guardiola has dismissed the idea that the selection of Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden has become a straight choice.
The Blues boss has only picked both of them in a starting line-up once in the last 11 Manchester City matches, with Foden having moved ahead of his more experienced teammate in the manager's mind.
Foden underlined that by scoring the winner in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Sterling was sent on for the last two minutes of Wednesday night's game, with the result virtually certain - and replaced Riyad Mahrez on the right, not shifting Foden from the left-hand side where he has been so effective.
And the 26-year-old Sterling made a hash of a golden chance to score his first City goal since February 21, taking one touch too many after sprinting through on goal.
Guardiola has said in the past that the only reason Sterling has not played is because of the form of Foden and Mahrez.
And with an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea looming tomorrow, Sterling is likely to return to the team, with Guardiola admitting his squad are "tired" after their midweek exertions.
But he says he would be happy to play both Foden and Sterling in the same team.
"If you know a little bit the trajectory of this team and the selections, the answer is obvious," he said. "Of course they can play together, they have played many times together. Phil can play in five positions and Raz can play in three. It depends on them."
And he has warned Foden - and the rest of the players - that even though their stock is currently high, that can change with one bad performance or even a below-par training session.
The manager has been criticised in the past for holding back Foden when the youngster was straining at the leash, but Guardiola said questions about the way he has carefully introduced, and then excluded, Foden, are irrelevant.
"It's not about what we believe in the past, it is what they show on the grass. Footballers have to show every single day," he said.
"Journalists want to talk about the past and the future. The future in football is the present. It doesn't matter what you have done, it is what you have to do today.
"Today everyone is involved, talking on social media and the players have to talk on the grass. It is the only way they can defend their prestige.
"Phil in that case, everything we get right now is on the grass, not in any other situations. He will continue being there depending on his performances, not what he has done so far."
