A host of Manchester City fringe players could have their moment against Southampton
A host of Manchester City fringe players could have their moment against Southampton Pep Guardiola has settled on his best Manchester City lineup in the past five games that City have played. As City have gained real momentum, a host of players in the City squad have barely featured. Throughout Pep Guardiola’s reign as Manchester City manager, we have seen this pattern in team selection emerge late in a season.
Today, City face Southampton in the first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Today’s match could be an opportunity for several of Manchester City’s fringe, or forgotten, depending on your point of view, players to make an impression on a big occasion. For some, depending on what team Pep Guardiola selects, it may be their last opportunity to make an impact this season.
Pep Guardiola touched on the mood of his entire Manchester City squad and that fatigue may influence his selection for today’s FA Cup semi-final. Speaking yesterday ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked about the mood of his entire squad. He explained that the players that have missed out on selection aren’t happy, however due to fatigue setting in amongst the City starters, they may get an opportunity today.
He explained: “ It’s good. Players [who] don’t play much aren’t happy; in the last games, long weeks, I rotate less because in the last five, six games we conceded one goal. ” “ With the Arsenal game and the rest, we’ve been quite good.
Always I try to involve everyone but when I arrive in the last part of the season, always I try to – when I’m pretty sure in the last four or five games the team, the vibe is good – rotate less and make less changes. ” “ But now I have to think because people were tired and come from [spending] energy, a little drained, and physios say, ‘Be careful with that player, that player for historical and potential injury’. If one player is injured now, it’s gone, it’s over.