Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said that new signing Claudio Bravo is ready to make his debut for the Citizens in the crunch Manchester Derby tomorrow.
The Chilean joined City in a £17 million move from Barcelona just before the end of the transfer window and is set to be given the spot between the sticks ahead of Willy Caballero at Old Trafford at Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
However, Guardiola ruled out the possibility of captain Vincent Kompany making a quick return from injury, while also bring Leroy Sane into contention for a first City appearance from a hamstring injury after his summer move from Schalke.
In his pre-match press conference, the City manager said:
Claudio is OK, he had a little bit of a problem in his leg but he’s trained the last two days. Sane is in terms of his condition, is the best player – Gundogan is much better.
Bravo is fit and ready – he’s 32, 33 years old – he has experience. No problem with that. He has to save the goals.
Kompany is training but we are waiting for the blood test to be sure. He’s fit but we don’t want to take too much risk because of what happened last season. We will be sure when he comes back he is 100%.
Guardiola’s City side may go into the game top of the table in the Premier League, but they will face a tall order if they are to beat a tough United side at the Theatre of Dreams in what is the most eagerly anticipated derby fixture in years.
