Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City cannot afford to field a stable back four because of underlying fitness issues.
City are in Copenhagen tomorrow, boasting a firing Erling Haaland and knowing that victory guarantees qualification to the Champions League knockout stages with two games still to play in their group.
But Kyle Walker has undergone groin surgery and John Stones is suffering with a hamstring injury, while Guardiola claimed he has wider difficulties of managing the consistent aches and pains of his defenders.
Kyle Walker (left) and John Stones (right) are both out for City right now through injury
City have not fielded the same back four in any of their last seven matches and the manager believes they will have to share the load if the club are to lift silverware this term.