Makeshift defence a winner for City boss

PEP Guardiola has paid tribute to Manchester City midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri after they helped keep a clean sheet in the Premier League champions’ 2-0 win at Crystal Palace yesterday.

With John Stones recently back from injury and only able to take a place on the bench and Nicolas Otamendi absent after suffering a knock while on international duty with Argentina, City was left short of options at centre-back.

That meant it was left to Rodri to drop back alongside fellow midfielder Fernandinho into the heart of City’s defence at Selhurst Park, where firsthalf goals from Gabriel Jesus and David Silva saw them move to within five points of leader Liverpool, albeit having played a game more.

“We had a lot of chances, unfortunately we cannot convert more, but it’s OK, we have next time,” Guardiola said.

“Nico had a big kick in the international with Argentina and in training yesterday I decided and thought about it.

“It’s a long season and we are going to use alternatives. John is now back, but he didn’t play for a long time.

“I thank them [Fernandinho and Rodri] both so much because it is not easy to play different positions with strikers like Crystal Palace have in Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew and Christian Benteke. They did really well.”

Jesus started up front for City with Sergio Aguero, who is joint top of the Premier League scoring charts, an unused substitute at Selhurst Park. The 22-year-old Brazil international broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with his 50th goal for City before Spanish midfielder Silva doubled the lead two minutes later.