Pep Guardiola: "Players will play in positions they aren't used to" against Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola admits that some of his Manchester City players "will play in positions they aren't used to" in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Citizens could be without up to three defenders with Kyle Walker and John Stones both facing a race against time to recover from respective ankle and muscle injuries, while Joao Cancelo will serve a one-match European suspension.

Speaking to reporters ahead of their encounter with Los Blancos at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola stated that both Walker and Stones remain doubtful and that some players will be required to play out of position if they are not deemed fit to feature.

"We have a training session today and see how the players are. Tonight, tomorrow, we decide the lineup. I wait for the training session to see how they feel," the Spaniard said at his press conference on Monday.

"I'm sure players will play in positions they aren't used to but they will do their best.

"[Walker and Stones] are doubts, Kyle didn't train last 10 days, John since Brighton. That's why, I don't know if they will train. We see how they feel, tomorrow take a decision."

Guardiola recently suggested that Gabriel Jesus could play at right-back after heaping praise on the player's work rate following his four-goal showing against Watford on Saturday, but the Spaniard has since confirmed that the forward will not play in defence on Tuesday.

"[Jesus is] not going to play right back! I express that he could," Guardiola added. "[Vinicius Junior], Gabriel could be a good battle but he won't play there. Maybe for a few minutes but no."

Should Walker miss out through injury, Guardiola may decide to name one of Fernandinho, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Conrad Egan-Riley at right-back in midweek.