Image source, Reuters

Manuel Akanji is relishing the extra competition provided by Josko Gvardiol as he hopes to remain a key player for Pep Guardiola.

Last summer's addition from Borussia Dortmund made 48 appearances for Manchester City last season in a variety of positions across the backline, with his versatility a vital quality for the Treble winners.

He believes the £77m arrival of Gvardiol will push him to even greater heights.

"He is a really good defender, especially for his age," said Akanji. "He has a lot of time in front of him. With so many good players here and the management staff we have, he can learn a lot. We are all really happy as he can be a big help for us.

"It helps me that I have to prove every day what I can do and to get me to the best level I can. It pushes me.

"Everybody wants to play but there are only 11 spots. That's our goal and it makes us better."

Asked about his favourite position before the Super Cup final against Sevilla, Akanji was unable to give a definitive answer.

"It is so hard to say because it depends how the opponent plays," he said. "Sometimes you get more touches in the middle, but as a full-back I can be more offensive and I like that too."

Quiz

Hey, you. Yeah, you, the one reading this page.

Want to do a quiz? Can you name a selected goalscorer from each of the last 10 Uefa Super Cups? Have a go here.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Athens

The kick-off for this Uefa Super Cup game is at 10pm local time but there is little sign of a let up in the stifling heat and humidity here in Athens and the pitch at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis has been receiving a heavy soaking from the sprinklers.

Plenty of locals here for this one and there is no doubt who they are here to see. A huge roar swept around the stadium when shots of Erling Haaland stepping off the City team bus flashed on to the big screens.

They will also see a first start for summer signing, defender Josko Gvardiol.

BBC Radio 5 Live

There is live commentary of this game on BBC Radio 5 Live - which you can listen to on this page. John Murray and Don Hutchison are in Athens for it.

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol is handed his first start for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola makes four changes from Friday's 3-0 win at Burnley.

Cole Palmer, Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish also come in.

Kevin de Bruyne is unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury against the Clarets.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake; Rodrigo, Kovacic, Foden; Palmer, Grealish, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Perrone, Bobb, Lewis, McAtee.

Jose Luis Mendilibar makes two changes to his Sevilla side who lost 2-1 against Valencia.

Former Manchester City midfielder Fernando and ex-Liverpool midfielder Suso drop out with Joan Jordan and Oliver Torres coming in.

Sevilla XI: Bono; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Acuna; Jordan, Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Lamela; En Nesyri.

Subs: Dmitrovic, Gattoni, Pedrosa, Montiel, Suso, Rafa Mir, Tecatito, Sow, Papu Gomez, Juanlu, Kike Salas, Manu Bueno.

Sevilla captain Jesus Navas starts against his former club.

Full team news to follow.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was understandably downbeat here in Athens when he revealed Kevin de Bruyne could be out for three or four months as he faces the possibility of surgery on a serious hamstring injury.

It confirmed City’s worst fears as the brilliant Belgian limped off early in Friday’s opening Premier League win at Burnley with a recurrence of the problem that curtailed his involvement in their Champions League final win over Inter Milan.

Guardiola must now contemplate how to fill this gap in his team, either from within or from outside, with City hoping to seal a deal for Brazil international Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United. This latest health bulletin on De Bruyne may hasten that pursuit.

De Bruyne, 32, has been at the heart of City’s great glories and played a huge part in striker Erling Haaland’s magnificent first season at the club, creating 11 of his 52 goals.

And team-mate Rodri delivered a sharp intake of breath and raised his eyebrows when he was informed of the extent of De Bruyne’s injury when conducting his news conference after Guardiola.

City, of course, have the strongest squad of players in the Premier League, as proved by their Treble last season, which included a fifth title in six seasons.

Guardiola still has a host of alternatives, and could well add another in Paqueta. However, he recognised the dilemma he now faces, admitting City could cope with short absences for De Bruyne - who has had injury problems - but the possibility of him missing months was another matter entirely.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirms that Kevin de Bruyne will be ruled out for months after suffering a hamstring injury in their opening Premier League game of the season against Burnley last Friday.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's We're Not Really Here podcast, the team focus in on the Super Cup final against Sevilla on Wednesday.

Presenter Natalie Pike points to the depth Pep Guardiola can turn to defensively....

Listen to the episode here.

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol makes his first start for Manchester City tonight.

Cole Palmer also gets a start.

Full team news to follow.

These trophies are like buses.

Manchester City lost the chance to lift the Community Shield when they lost on penalties to Arsenal.

But just 10 days later they have another chance to get their hands on some silverware in the European version - the Uefa Super Cup.

Welcome to live text and radio commentary of Manchester City v Sevilla in Athens.

Image source, Getty Images