Manchester City Must Cross Out New Players For Playoffs In The Champions League

Nico Gonzales, a new Manchester City player who may have been dropped for the knockout play of the Champions League (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces difficulties in selecting players for the knockout play of the Champions League as he has to cross out one of the players recruited by the club in January 2025.

Manchester City, amid a prolonged poor form, spent 210 million euros (219 million US dollars) last month on striker Omar Marmoush, midfielder Nico Gonzalez, and defender Abdukodir Khusanov, as well as Vitor Reis.

The club must notify UEFA of 25 players who will compete in the knockout playoffs no later than 11 p.m. GMT on Thursday. However, each club can only make three changes to the group stage squad.

That means Manchester City will have to cross out at least one of their four new players.

The Citizens will face Real Madrid in the knockout play of the Champions League, with the first leg being held at the Etihad scheduled for February 12, 2025 and the second match at the Bernabeu on February 20, 2025.

This is the fourth season in a row Manchestere City and Real Madrid will face off in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Last season, they drew in both matches before the Spanish giant finally qualified after winning on penalties and lifting the trophy against Borussia Dortmund.

The previous year, Manchester City won 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals before beating Inter Milan in the final to complete historic trebles.