Guardiola backs Fernandinho as Man City defensive crisis bites

Pep Guardiola backed 34-year-old Fernandinho's ability to cope with a heavy workload as he juggles his stretched defensive resources for Tuesday's home Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb.

City are missing the injured John Stones and Aymeric Laporte and the manager was forced to field the makeshift pairing of Nicolas Otamendi and midfielder Fernandinho in central defence against Everton on Saturday.

The Premier League champions had some shaky moments defensively at Goodison Park but emerged 3-1 winners to keep the gap to Liverpool at five points.

Guardiola said Fernandinho had the durability to fill in at centre-half despite his age.

"If he feels fit he can play (twice a week)," Guardiola said on Monday. "It depends on him in terms of physical regeneration after the games.

"When John (Stones) is back we will have an alternative, and now we have young alternatives. Rodri can play in that position.

"Last season he (Fernandinho) started to struggle a little bit, the last part of the season, but the previous season he played every three days. He was one of the players with most minutes."
"We have players who can play in many positions like Fernandinho and (Oleksandr) Zinchenko. It's a tough time for the team but it will make us stronger."
"Hopefully he can maintain that level for a long time."
"For the fans the Premier League here in England is the most exciting. We know as a club. We made a poll and people prefer by far a third Premier League than to win the Champions League."