Pep Guardiola explains puzzling Man City team news vs Atletico Madrid as Stones and Ake start

Pep Guardiola says Nathan Ake will play at left-back and John Stones at centre-back after he confused fans with his Manchester City team news against Atletico Madrid.

With Kyle Walker suspended and Ruben Dias injured, Guardiola recalled John Stones to the City line-up for the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Nathan Ake kept his place after playing well at Burnley, alongside Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo.

That raised the possibility of either Stones or playing at right-back, or Ake playing at left-back, with Joao Cancelo able to play on both flanks. However, Guardiola said Stones will return to his natural centre-back role.

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Guardiola had joked before the game that he would play 12 players after 'overthinking' his selection for this clash. Ultimately, Guardiola was hitting back at accusations he thinks too much about big games, and his versatile teamsheet against Atletico will be another example of the manager picking an unconventional starting XI.

Speaking to BT Sport, Guardiola explained: "John plays with Aymer centrally and Nathan played really well last game and was good on set pieces and a left foot.

"I thought a lot with him and Aleks [Zinchenko] and Joao but decide for this."

On his attacking selections, which saw Phil Foden drop to the bench and Ilkay Gundogan join the midfield, Guardiola said: "It is what it is, we have players on the bench to change the game. Gabby and Phil can give incredible intensity. We need more powers, Jack is a master of that. I start with these today.

"We have to be ourselves, try to do our best of the last years. Try to do our best performance individually, as a team.

"We try all the time to