Pep Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday night that Bernardo was withdrawn because of injury in Manchester City’s Champions League win over Crvena Zvezda

Bernardo Silva (Image: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Manchester City’s comfortable win on matchday one in the Champions League against Crvena Zvezda was tainted slightly when Pep Guardiola confirmed Bernardo Silva had picked up an injury.

John Stones, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne are already sidelined, with the latter not expected back this year after picking up an injury in City’s opening game of the Premier League season against Burnley.

City will have to cope without the loss of Bernardo and that won’t be easy given how versatile he has shown himself to be. The Portuguese can play either side of Erling Haaland and can even fill in at left-back, though it’s perhaps in midfield where his absence will be felt most given Mateo Kovacic’s fitness issues of late.

With that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at three different midfield combinations Guardiola could go with in Bernardo’s absence.

Rodri, Nunes and Foden

Nunes made his first start for the club against Crvena Zvezda, showing the Etihad faithful a glimpse of things to come.

Nunes played regular Premier League football for Wolves after his switch from Sporting Lisbon last year, and the game against Forest could be a good chance for him to make his first start.

Phil Foden has made no secret of his desire to play in a central role, though Guardiola has tended to play him on the wing. Bernardo’s injury could give him his chance to shine in the middle.

Rodri, Phillips and Foden

Bernardo has occasionally operated in a deep midfield pivot alongside Rodri and Kalvin Phillips would be the obvious choice if Guardiola wanted to deploy the tactic again.

Phillips has played just 13 minutes this season, but if it’s a toss-up between the England international and Nunes, Guardiola may opt to go with Phillips given he is more of a natural holding midfielder and City will need to be wary of the Forest counter.

With Guardiola often playing Julian Alvarez and Foden alongside each other behind Erling Haaland this season, a trio of Rodri, Nunes and Phillips could be on the cards.

Nunes has the ability to carry the ball up the pitch and so could help give City what they would miss by not playing Bernardo or Foden in midfield. One thing is for sure: whatever midfield Guardiola picks it will almost certainly have Rodri at the base.

Rodri won UEFA Player of the Match on Tuesday night and Guardiola said of his star midfielder: “Hopefully he can be better and improve but he’s an extraordinary holding midfielder. He’s a top-class player.”

Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk