After using no replacements in the Premier League win over Fulham, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola plans to rotate his squad again this week.
The Man City boss has been one of the most staunch proponents of the rule of five substitutes per game which he kept alive in every competition for the 2020/21 season apart from the Premier League, adopted as a transitional move to complete the 2019/20 season.
On Saturday, Pep gave justification to those who argued that an additional two substitutes were not sufficient and he did not allow any replacements, despite acknowledging that Kevin De Bruyne was exhausted in the final 20 minutes and that his team was inefficient in front of the net.
The City manager, however, said that he only wanted the possibility of making further improvements, suggested that the line-up for the midweek Champions League match with Marseilles would look considerably different. Before taking on rivals United at Old Trafford next Saturday, the Blues finish off their final group game.
Pep Guardiola said, “Of course we have done the job in the Champions League but we have prestige to play for, some bonuses if we win the game. It is a serious game, we have to respect the competition and Marseilles and Olympiacos are competing for the Europa League. The guys who didn’t play today are going to play on Wednesday. The team were more or less good. I decided to put 90 minutes in their legs today and a fresh 90 minutes for the game on Wednesday. After Wednesday we’re going to see what the best selection is.”
