Manchester City’s ideal XI following the January window

Nicolas Otamendi

Deciding between Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones is far from easy, yet you sense that, as a defender, Otamendi is better, and thus would probably get the nod.

The Argentine defender had a reasonably solid start to the campaign, but has found things tricky in the last few weeks, and was run ragged by Diego Costa and Chelsea back on December 3.

However, it has been Otamendi that has been the regular feature in an ever-changing City defence this season, so Guardiola clearly rates him as a defender, while Stones has had to make-do with a few substitute appearances in recent weeks.

Clearly, Otamendi is prone to the odd error but, if he can begin to cut them out, he’s a good defender for City.