PEP GUARDIOLA admits he is still angry with Kyle Walker over his sending off in Manchester City’s defeat at RB Leipzig three months ago.
The right-back’s dismissal in City’s final Champions League group game in December for a needless kick at Portugal forward Andre Silva incurred a three-match ban.
Given the incident occurred in a match that was effectively a dead rubber for City, with their place in the knockout stages as group winners already assured, manager Guardiola was furious at the time.
Now with City short of players due to injury and illness for the second leg of their last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, the issue very much remains a sore point.
“He deserved the three-game ban,” said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference. “When a player does a stupid thing, he deserves to be banned for three games.
“I’m not so kind to Kyle in this kind of action. I’m still so angry with him.
“It’s not necessary to discuss (it) with him – he knows it. Kyle is so important for us – you saw the game he played against United – but in Leipzig when we had already qualified, 80 minutes in and he made this kind of action? He deserves the three games.
“The club appealed but I did not agree. They had to do it because in other similar cases it was just two games (but) he deserved it. Hopefully he learns for the future.”
Walker’s suspension exacerbates City’s defensive problems with centre-backs Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake out injured and fellow full-back Joao Cancelo this week succumbing to illness.
Having won the first leg 5-0 last month, City’s progress to the quarter-finals seems unlikely to be impeded but it is frustrating for Guardiola nevertheless.
He said: “We don’t have many players. We have just 14 players available.
“We have a few problems in the back four – the suspension for Kyle, Joao is sick and cannot play.
“Of course we had an incredible result in the first leg, we start the game 5-0, but it is not done.
“Football is unpredictable in many cases. Red cards can be a distraction, or the quality of the opponent – that is why we’ll take a top side as much as possible. From not many alternatives we are going to do the best to try to win the game.”
The issues could mean a start for Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The left-back has shown great dignity and strength in recent weeks despite being visibly affected by the crisis in his homeland.
Guardiola would have no reservations about picking him.
He said: “He is ready. Of course, it is not an easy period for him, absolutely not, but I think he’ll be ready just in case he has to play.”
Guardiola hinted that playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who is one booking away from a suspension, could be held back.
Asked if the situation could affect his selection, Guardiola said: “Yes, a little bit. Maybe (he will) not (start). We’ll see.”
The Champions League is one of three competitions City could still win this year along with the Premier League – in which they are six points clear at the top – and the FA Cup.
Goalkeeper Ederson, who joined Guardiola for media duties, believes a treble is a realistic aim.
He said: “We know how difficult it is but we have the quality to do this. We’ve shown this previously and we’re showing it at the moment. I think we’re fully capable of meeting this achievement.”
