Pep Guardiola insists there was ‘no specific reason’ for recalling Phil Foden to Man City starting XI for the first time in six games to face Chelsea, claiming ‘everyone wanted this line-up’ as they look to chase down Arsenal
- Pep Guardiola did not elaborate on the reasons for his starting XI to face Chelsea
- Phil Foden was given the nod over Jack Grealish for the clash at Stamford Bridge
- Guardiola insists there was ‘no specific reason’ and wanted to rotate the team
- It’s Foden’s first start in seven City games, having been dropped to the bench
Pep Guardiola has insisted there was no real reasoning behind his decision to recall Phil Foden back to Man City‘s starting line-up for the first time in six games to face Chelsea.
England duo Kyle Walker and Foden were recalled for tonight’s clash at Stamford Bridge with Jack Grealish dropping to the bench as a result.
Foden had started just one of City’s last seven Premier League matches and his absence from Guardiola’s starting line-ups began to raise eyebrows, given the England star was not injured.
Phil Foden was recalled to Manchester City’s starting XI to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Pep Guardiola insisted there was no specific reason as to the team he named on Thursday
But when asked about the changes he’s made for the crunch clash with Chelsea, Guardiola said there was no definite reason to why he named the starting XI and instead wants to get everyone involved.
‘Before every game you guys ask me the reason why, sometimes is not a specific reason why,’ Guardiola told Sky Sports. ‘I want to rotate the team, get everyone involved.
‘Sometimes I pay attention for the opponent, sometimes for the tactics or the quality of the players we have, I don’t care for the tactics today.
Foden has started Man City’s last six games on the bench and his absence raised eyebrows
‘There’s not one specific reason I decide. Since I arrived, I’m not a guy who plays 11 players every time. Because you cannot handle the locker room.
‘When the players don’t play they have to have the feeling they can play at a certain level. It’s not nice.’
Guardiola also claimed that ‘everyone’ wanted to see the team he’s named before admitting that it isn’t normal to be trailing the league leaders by eight points at this stage of the season.
‘Everyone wanted this line-up – I follow our fans,’ Guardiola explained. ‘We are not going to discover what it means.
Jack Grealish dropped to the bench in place of Foden despite his good run of form
‘Kyle [Walker] and Joao [Cancelo] came back from the World Cup with niggles and weren’t settled. Rico [Lewis] and the other guys have been fantastic.
‘We would prefer to be eight points infront, that is the reality. But, I have the feeling, when you’ve won four Premier Leagues in the last five years, that it is not normal to be eight points clear with this competition and all the top teams that we have.
‘We try to be there close, and there is a lot of games still to play. We’ll try to maintain our playing level and get a good run of victories.’