Guardiola updates on Man City duo ahead of Gladbach test

The Manchester City boss has offered an update on the status of Sterling and Ake ahead of the latest Champions League match.

Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake will both travel to Budapest for the second leg of Manchester City’s Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Ake has returned to training since suffering a hamstring injury in December. The center-back isn’t ready to return to competitive action yet, but he’ll make the trip to the Hungarian capital anyway as he edges closer to a comeback.

“I want Nathan to be involved as soon as possible,” said Pep Guardiola in a pre-match conference. “He flies with us and as soon as he can be involved, I want to do it.”

Not starting for Man City:

Gundogan ❌
De Bruyne ❌
Mahrez ❌
Sterling ❌ (not in squad)
Foden ❌#FPL #FULMCI pic.twitter.com/Xem9UUKjc1

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 13, 2021

Sterling was a surprise omission from City’s 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday. Guardiola opted to leave the winger out for the trip to London as part of his rotations.

“He [Sterling] travels with the team for tomorrow, of course,” continued the City boss. “All the squad travel to Budapest.”

On how his rotations affect the squad, Guardiola added: “I don’t expect the guys who are not selected are happy. It is normal.

“It has happened since football was created. Raheem in this case has been so important and is so important.

“All the players respect my decisions. I never found in my career one player who was happy when they don’t play, but they react and behave really well.”