Manchester City’s new boss Pep Guardiola is making waves by leaving out some high profile names from the starting line up. In his first Premier league clash against Sunderland, Pep opted to go without Joe Hart and instead decided to go with Willy Caballero in the goal.
The Spanish manager also left out a fully fit Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri. He explained that Nasri came back from the Euros a bit overweight and is working on his fitness while Yaya has been training excellently. When asked how the English keeper took the exclusion from the team, the city boss said
“He took the omission well and he’s a professional”
“I have to create a team spirit. It’s not about tactics, it’s not about anything, and I decided today for this line-up.”
“I have no complaints about these names. Yaya trained really good, Samir arrived a little bit overweight but in the last one or two weeks he has been training amazing. I am really impressed with his quality. Mangala, you know better than me how professional he is.”
“I took that decision,” he said. “Today, in the world, people are afraid to take the decisions I like to make. But in the end I have a squad and I decide what I see.
“That doesn’t mean in the future they are not going to play. I have a lot of respect for Joe, a lot of respect for his career. I know how good a goalkeeper he is but today I decided for Willy, that’s all. I thought Sunderland played high pressing and Willy had trained in more sessions than Joe. We have spent a lot of time working in training. That doesn’t mean Joe can’t do that. Just today, it was for that reason.”
Pep reminded how Willy has had a good pre season and he’s proved his worth
“I think Willy make a good pre-season – really, really good,” Guardiola said. “He gave me a lot of confidence for his build-up play, for his personality and that’s why I chose him.”
Guardiola also praised Sterling for his performance by adding,
“Sterling was amazing. That is what we need. People to play wide and have the quality to go one on one, on the outside, inside, right, left. That is important. He is a fighter,” said Guardiola.
City managed to win the game against Sunderland by the help of an early penalty from Aguero and a Paddy McNair own goal at the end of which Hart came on the field to celebrate with his team.
