Manchester City are grappling with injuries and fitness concerns in defence, but these challenges have led to a rare luxury for Pep Guardiola: a settled backline that he can rely on consistently.
For a manager like Guardiola, who is known for solving tactical puzzles, the abundance of defensive talent has posed a unique challenge. With only four defensive spots available, rotating his players has been a common solution. Guardiola typically prefers a smaller squad with versatile players who can fit into various systems. However, it’s unusual for him to commit to a specific centre-back pairing this early in the season.
A few seasons ago, John Stones and Ruben Dias were practically untouchable, which eventually led to Aymeric Laporte’s exit from the club. More recently, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji stepped up, pushing Kyle Walker out of the regular lineup and seeing Stones move forward into midfield. This season, the preferred pairing seems to be Akanji and Dias.
Injuries to Ake and the delayed return of Stones have allowed Akanji and Dias to establish themselves, starting seven of City’s nine games so far this season. The only exceptions were against Watford and Slovan Bratislava.
Meanwhile, Rico Lewis has made the right-back spot his own, while also excelling in holding and attacking midfield roles. Josko Gvardiol, another key player, is the only one to have featured in every game so far this season. Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, and Lewis have consistently been among the top appearance-makers, with the same defensive lineup starting five matches already.
Injuries may have forced Guardiola’s hand, but it appears he’s found a settled defensive unit. Now, it’s up to players like Stones, Ake, and Walker to challenge that stability and prove they deserve a place in the starting XI.
John Stones acknowledged the competition, saying, “We’re ready when we’re called upon. The boys have been playing really well. We’ve all had our chances, and it’s about being ready. He [Guardiola] uses our strengths differently for different opposition. That’s why we’ve been so successful in different competitions.”
The consistency in City’s defence could play a crucial role as the season progresses. Title-winning teams often rely on a settled back four, and while Guardiola is known for rotating his squad, a strong, stable defence could be the foundation for City’s success this year.
Looking at their rivals, Liverpool and Arsenal have also maintained consistency in their defensive lineups, using minimal rotation. Liverpool, for example, has used the same back four in six out of seven Premier League matches, while Arsenal has kept William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as a constant pairing.
As Guardiola continues to juggle key absences in other areas, a reliable defence could keep Manchester City competitive at the top of the table until the team truly hits its stride later in the season.
