Pep Guardiola declared the left side of defence as a "little bit of a handicap" for Nicolas Otamendi on Monday...and then played him there on Tuesday.
Asked about the strengths of the Argentine defender, the Manchester City manager offered that he was better on the right because he is right-footed so cannot play the kind of passes with his left foot that, for instance, Aymeric Laporte is able to.
However, a day later Otamendi was lining up next to Benjamin Mendy with Fernandinho next to Joao Cancelo. At times, Rodri slotted in alongside or instead of Fernandinho depending on how play was moving.
Asked about the decision after the game, Guardiola explained that it was done to better accommodate £60m full-back Joao Cancelo, who was making his first start at the Etihad.
The former Juventus defender has struck up a good relationship with fellow Portuguese speaker Fernandinho as he settles in Manchester and the City manager thought that putting them next to each other in the team would make for a stronger backline despite Otamendi's 'handicap'.
“I wanted the support from the right on Ferna because his communication with Joao is better than Nico. He’s played many times on the left but with three at the back, two strikers I didn’t expect them to play five at the back, I thought maybe we want to do something different and maybe Dinho in that position is better but both can change.
"But especially to support Joao on his first game here. He has a good relationship with Fernandinho."
._Patrick_s_Day_Parade_94380.jpg?w=600)
