If Manchester City want to make an early statement in their Champions League quarter final second leg, they will have to do so without Yaya Toure.
The Ivorian midfielder has been dropped for the visit of Paris Saint-Germain, despite returning to action at the weekend against West Bromwich Albion.
City have named an unchanged side from that which drew the first leg 2-2 in Paris, with Kevin de Bruyne playing just behind lone striker Sergio Aguero.
TEAM NEWS | City line up exactly the way they did in Paris last week! #cityvpsg #mcfc pic.twitter.com/x6F9Tym7V9
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 12, 2016
Rio Ferdinand has been among the first to question Manuel Pellegrini’s team selection, while many fans and reporters have also chipped in.
.@rioferdy5 questions @YayaToure's absence and is left bemused by @JNavas' inclusion. #CityvPSG #UCL https://t.co/Jqb6GSnmIq
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 12, 2016
No Yaya…???? @MCFC that is a) a surprise and b) a BIG mistake… #MCFCvPSG
— (Sir) Geoff (@igyphoto) April 12, 2016
No Yaya for MCFC. Brave call but probably the right one. Team is balanced & KDB is in his most dangerous position. pic.twitter.com/mcCllq4D95
— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) April 12, 2016
No Yaya in the XI is intriguing…
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) April 12, 2016
Happy and confident with that line up. No time for passengers. Yes, aimed at Yaya. Delph on after an hour to finish the job 🐍
— Si Robs (@Si_Robs) April 12, 2016
No yaya wtf
— Danny Holmes 🐝🦈 (@danbo90) April 12, 2016
But it seems former City forward Rodney Marsh was one of the few to see it coming…
>Told you City would start with two defensive M/F's !! no Yaya…@IanCheeseman
— Rodney Marsh💙™️ (@RodneyMarsh10) April 12, 2016
