Pep Guardiola planning to 'overthink' Manchester City past Atletico

Pep Guardiola has joked he will field 12 players against Atletico Madrid in an apparent swipe at critics who claim he overthinks crucial Champions League ties.

The Manchester City boss teased that he will definitely outdo himself on the tactics front as the Premier League leaders host the Spanish champions in a quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

Guardiola has faced criticism after City's exits from the competition in recent years, including after last year’s final, after making some unexpected selections or changes to his system.

Pre-empting the flak that could come his way should City come up short again, Guardiola addressed the issue as he held his pre-match press conference on Monday.

Yet in doing so in a way that was part-serious as well as light-hearted, Guardiola added a level of intrigue with an apparently sarcastic answer that left people guessing at what his tactics might actually be.

"In the Champions League I always overthink," said the Spaniard at the start of a week that also includes a crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool.

"I always create new tactics and ideas, and tomorrow you will see a new one.

"I overthink a lot, that’s why I have very good results in the Champions League. I love it. It would be boring if I always played the same way.

"If people think I will play the same against Atletico and Liverpool, I don’t think like that because the movements from Liverpool are completely different than Atletico – especially because the players are all different.

"Every player has a mother and father, and the mother and father give different personalities to the players.

"That’s why I love to overthink and create stupid tactics, and when we don’t win I am punished. Tonight I will take inspiration and I’m going to