Ninety-six hours before Manchester City's do-or-die UEFA Champions League game at home to Club Brugge, Pep Guardiola took the unusual step of effectively confirming a selection decision.John Stones will start a game where anything less than three points for the 2022/23 winners will end their participation before the knockout stages.

Pep Guardiola has told John Stones he needs him on the pitch in Wednesday’s crunch Champions League clash with Bruges. The England defender has made only eight starts for Manchester City this season in an injury-hit campaign and not completed 90 minutes since October.

As Manchester City seek to get back to their best we can see a conflict between what Pep Guardiola wants his side to be and what they are.

Stones shone in the Treble success by transforming into a dependable solution in defensive midfield, largely alongside Rodri, however with the injury sustained by the Spaniard, Guardiola believes it rules out the idea of the England centre-back returning to the role this season.

Champions League updates, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction - It’s a must-win game for the 2023 winners tonight

As Manchester City seek to get back to their best we can see a conflict between what Pep Guardiola wants his side to be and what they are.

The performance of Manchester City against Club Brugge last night was definitely a tale of two halves. That’s an old cliche but it rang true last night. Pep Guardiola’s side were not at their

Crisis averted then for Manchester City. Or perhaps that should read crisis postponed? The champions of England escaped the league phase and through a certain prism, there is a case to be made that Pep Guardiola's side are well into the post-nadir period of their season.

Head in hands as John Stones headed wide, flailing as Matheus Nunes sold himself short to allow the visitors the opener, his angst lived every moment.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that despite recent injury and fitness problems concerning the player, John Stones must start for the club this week.The Premier League champions

His side live to fight another day, but Pep Guardiola is in no doubt that whatever Friday's Champions League draw holds for Manchester City, his side will be underdogs. Winning the competition entirely?