Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained why he opted to start Gabriel Jesus ahead of Sergio Aguero at the Bernabeu tonight.
City are facing Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Raheem Sterling and David Silva joining Aguero on the bench.
Aguero has made just two starts in Europe this season but has scored twice while Jesus has found the net on four occasions.
Bernardo Silva is expected to start in a false nine position with Jesus on the left and Guardiola explained it was just a tactical decision.
“I decide for him [Jesus], like I decide for Sergio,” the boss told BT Sport ahead of the clash.
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“I decide this line-up for a few things, I’ll have to change something during the game and that’s all.
“Fernandinho is just as good [as Nicolas Otamendi] at set-pieces, just Fernandinho is not top, top, top condition and physicality.
“He [Raheem Sterling] could have played from the beginning but 90 minutes I do not know, and that’s why I decide.”
Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown was left shocked by Aguero’s omission.
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He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: Leaving Sergio Aguero out is a surprise.
“But it looks like Pep Guardiola has gone for legs in the team, a bit more mobility.
“The other surprise is Nicolas Otamendi in at centre-half and no Fernandinho.”
And Brown wasn’t the only one surprised with a number of fans expressing their feelings on social media.
One wrote: “Literally can’t get my head around leaving Aguero and Fernandinho on the bench away at Real Madrid, it just baffles me”
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While another added: “In all seriousness, can someone tell me why you'd bench Aguero, the player with more experience and better under pressure, and start Jesus in his place, a still developing young player who has been bottling in the prem let alone away at the Bernabeu. Genuinely I'm trying to see”
And a third perplexed supporter simply asked: “WHY IS AGUERO ON THE BENCH”
That was echoed by another: “Aguero is on the bench????? WHY WHY”
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