Pep Guardiola has “zero” concerns about Phil Foden despite the Manchester City player struggling to impress on England duty.
Foden was unable to make an impression against Uruguay and Japan with speculation that he could now miss out on England’s World Cup squad. He has also started only one of Man City’s last eight games, being an unused substitute in three of them.
Asked if he is worried about Foden’s dip in form, Guardiola said: “Zero. He is 25. Six Premier Leagues. His contribution is incredible. What happened is a normal process in a long, long career. A normal situation. He will make a click and it will turn.”
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Guardiola also gave short shrift to comments made by Rodri appearing to suggest an interest in Real Madrid. Asked for his view on the midfielder’s future at the club, he said: “No opinion. I know the intentions of the club. I know, I think, the intentions of him.”
The City boss was more forthcoming when discussing the legacy of Mohamed Salah as he prepares to welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final, following the news that this will be the Egyptian’s final visit in a Liverpool shirt.
“Absolutely one of the greatest. The numbers, the consistency. What a player. Incredible human being, goals, assists, absolute legend, of course for Liverpool, but the Premier League,” Guardiola argued. “I think it is a good moment to say goodbye to him.”
Pep: Schedule makes no sense
Guardiola also admitted that he wished Manchester City’s schedule were busier and that they were still in Europe – but still criticised the workload on the players.
City have a free week coming up following their Champions League exit to Real Madrid and while Guardiola would much prefer to remain in the competition, he still took a swipe at the demands placed on his players during the international break.
“I would love to have the next week, in the midweek, to be in the Champions League and have a busy, busy schedule but unfortunately we are out,” he said.
“But we are focusing on the next game and after a long wait to prepare the next game against Chelsea. It is one of the last chances that we have to still be there for the minimal chance that we have for the Premier League. We are focused with that.”
While he insists that he was “always” mentally sharp, having benefited from a break during the international window, Guardiola pointed out that it was not true of everyone. “It is an international ‘break’ except for the players that go with the national teams.”
He added: “It is still so difficult for me to understand how it is possible when you are eight or nine months playing for all the titles every three days, you are bringing players from other continents for friendly games.
“It is completely different when you have to qualify but the friendly games? The risk of injury is massive and it makes really, really, really no sense.”
How strong will Pep go against Liverpool?
Sky Sports’ Richard Morgan:
There is still plenty of silverware for both Man City and Liverpool to win this season – so it will be intriguing to see if Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot go strong at the Etihad this Saturday lunchtime.
City, who have already claimed the first trophy of the campaign after beating Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final, could be eyeing a domestic treble come the end of May. And after the club’s recent Champions League exit, Guardiola will now have a rare free week with his players to prepare for their crucial next league game at Chelsea on April 12.
City should therefore field their strongest line-up this weekend, but that may not be the case with the visitors, who could still win an FA Cup and Champions League double themselves this season, however unlikely that may seem.
Slot has more selection dilemmas for his side’s trip to Manchester, though, with Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah all injury doubts, while the Dutchman also has to factor in both Wednesday’s Champions League last-eight game at Paris Saint-Germain and the visit of Fulham three days later as the Reds chase a return to Europe’s premier club competition next season.
That trio of awkward-looking fixtures across three different competitions in a taxing seven-day spell means Slot will almost certainly have to juggle his playing resources at the Etihad, which may very well hand the initiative to the hosts in what is sure to be a closely-fought contest.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
