Pep Guardiola insists he will keep making controversial selections

‘I have to feel it in my guts’: Pep Guardiola insists he will keep making controversial selection calls as the Manchester City boss defends dropping Kevin De Bruyne and playing Bernardo Silva at left back

  • Before his side’s trip to Forest, Guardiola launched an impassioned defence
  • He anticipates Manchester City’s title chase with Arsenal going down to the wire
  • Man City are currently odds-on favourites to win their fifth crown in six years

Pep Guardiola insists he will keep using use gut instinct and make controversial selection calls as he anticipates Manchester City’s title chase with Arsenal going down to the wire.

Before Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Guardiola launched an impassioned defence of recent line-ups which have seen Kevin De Bruyne dropped and Bernardo Silva deployed as a left back.

‘If it works, I am brave. If it doesn’t, I am overthinking, arrogant,’ said the City manager, whose side are top on goal difference after beating Arsenal 3-1.

‘People ask why Kevin doesn’t play all the time. Because he can’t. He needs to be fresh in the mind. To get the message he can do better.

‘I can’t just play the XI that people around the world want — I have to believe in the decisions. I’ve never taken a decision because I wanted to show off. I have to feel it in my guts.

Pep Guardiola insists he will keep using use gut instinct and make controversial selection calls

Guardiola launched an impassioned defence of recent line-ups which have seen Kevin De Bruyne dropped

‘Sometimes it takes one minute, sometimes two days and I arrive at lunchtime for the pre-match meal still not 100 per cent sure.’

City are odds-on favourites to win their fifth crown in six years but Guardiola is convinced they have a fight on their hands. 

‘Momentum is when you win 10 in a row and we have not done that this season,’ he said. ‘Arsenal will still be there. We saw that in the way they played against us.

‘Tiger Woods showed this week that he never gives up. We have to continue to the end.’


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