Soccer

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his players must 'raise their standards'


Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola lays down the gauntlet as he demands MORE from his players and insists they must ‘raise their standards’

  • Pep Guardiola wants his Manchester City players to raise their standards 
  • Guardiola says players shouldn’t assume they should start following rotation  
  • Aymeric Laporte has been left out recently but Guardiola says he will play soon

Pep Guardiola turned up the heat on his Manchester City stars by demanding improved individual performances.

The last 10 days have brought a distinct change in the mood of City’s manager, who had spent much of this campaign shielding players from criticism by bemoaning a non-existent pre-season amid an injury crisis.

Guardiola has now turned the focus on his squad after making a string of surprising calls with recent team selections. 

Pep Guardiola has demanded more from his Man City players to improve their performances

Pep Guardiola has demanded more from his Man City players to improve their performances

Aymeric Laporte has not featured in any of the three matches since defeat at Tottenham and failed to make the bench for last week’s 5-0 demolition of Burnley, a game that also saw last year’s top scorer Raheem Sterling an unused substitute.

‘All the players know now there are players who play good and don’t play the next game,’ Guardiola said.

‘There is a misunderstanding about the word rotation. Rotation looks like “I’m a big star and now I don’t play this game because I’m going to play the next important game (instead)”. This is a huge mistake for the players to have in their heads.

Aymeric Laporte has been left out of late but Guardiola says he will soon play a lot of games

Aymeric Laporte has been left out of late but Guardiola says he will soon play a lot of games

‘Now they know that having 19 or 20 players fit they have to raise their standards and play in as high a level as possible. 

‘That’s the only way to get close to the biggest teams in Europe and the biggest team in the Premier League.

‘Aymeric continues to be really important for us but right now I’m playing other guys. In future I’m pretty sure he’s going to play a lot of games.’

City – again without striker Sergio Aguero – go into Saturday’s home game against Fulham six points adrift of the leaders, although possess a game in hand.

Winger Raheem Sterling was also an unused substitute in City's 5-0 victory against Burnley

Winger Raheem Sterling was also an unused substitute in City’s 5-0 victory against Burnley

Guardiola chose to reference stability in his players’ home lives as crucial to continued selection.

‘If you want more you have to show me on the grass,’ he added. ‘Training session, your private life, everything.

‘We have to fight to do it better. And we can only do that by demanding more and more of ourselves. 

‘It’s the only way. They have to feel that there are six or seven incredible players who don’t play and who are waiting.

Guardiola revealed that Riyad Mahrez will start against Fulham after he impressed recently

Guardiola revealed that Riyad Mahrez will start against Fulham after he impressed recently

‘During 11 months you can drop a little bit, it’s normal. But they have to compete, they have to do a performance like they’ve done in the last two games, Burnley and Porto – this is the level from which we have to build something important this season.

‘Riyad Mahrez scored three goals against Burnley and tomorrow he’s going to play. Because he scored a lot of goals. 

‘The guys who score goals are going to have more chance to play. The guys who don’t make mistakes behind are going to play. This is about the performance.’



READ NEWS SOURCE

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.