Pep Guardiola admitted that he had wanted to rotate the team more before Manchester City were struck by a defensive injury crisis.
Scans have confirmed that vice-captain Ruben Dias is set to miss up to six weeks with a hamstring problem sustained during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, piling on the issues for Guardiola after Josko Gvardiol broke his right leg in the same game.
It leaves City with Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as their only senior central defenders, Guardiola claiming to have 'no idea' when John Stones is returning and giving the clearest indication yet that the England international is leaving in the summer.