Manchester City have been handed a massive injury boost with Ruben Dias fit to face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Dias has been on the sidelines for more than a month with a hamstring injury. However, the defender took part in training on Tuesday with Guardiola revealing the defender is fit for Wednesday’s clash against Atleti.
“He [Dias] travels with us, and the rest all of them are fit,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference.
“The fact he’s back is incredible. We have a big schedule until the end of the season. Everyone will be important.”
Solid defense
City have had one of the best defense this season in the Premier League having conceded just 20 goals so far.
“To win trophies you have to be solid, not concede chances. When you have the ball, defend well with the ball. What you do with the ball is the best way to defend. There are moments we don’t have the ball, set pieces, then we have to defend.”
“You cannot win things if you don’t concede a few. Riyad, Phil, and Gundo, they are not defensive players but they run from day one, solid as a team. Solid tomorrow, it will be difficult to get to the semi-finals.”
City faced a stubborn Atletico Madrid defence in the first meeting at the Etihad, as the Spanish visitors sat deep defensively in a bid to soak up the pressure.
Kevin De Bruyne’s goal provided City with a 1-0 win, however, and Guardiola is expecting a ‘different game’ given Atletico’s need to turn around the tie.
