Pep Guardiola didn’t feel the need to make any substitutions in Manchester City’s win over Newcastle, despite having a threadbare squad and less than three days to prepare for the game.
City lifted the Super Cup in Athens in the early hours of Thursday morning and didn’t return to England until later than evening. The Blues didn’t train on Friday and had just 18 players available to face Newcastle on Saturday night for an 8pm kick-off that Guardiola has publicly criticised.
Guardiola’s side are without Kevin De Bruyne for a long-term period, while Bernardo Silva and John Stones were missing for a second game running. Aymeric Laporte was not in the squad as City have accepted an offer for the Spaniard, while Joao Cancelo continues to be out of the matchday frame.
Despite that, Guardiola opted against making changes for the 1-0 win over Newcastle, even when the visitors were pressuring City’s goal towards the end of the game.
However, Guardiola didn’t want to disrupt the rhythm of the performance, with City trying to catch Newcastle on the break during the latter stages.
He explained: “I thought Rico [Lewis], Kalvin [Phillips] and Cole [Palmer] to maybe be a part of that, but I saw the team in that moment were alive. In that game to come in sometimes the rhythm was difficult. I know they were tired but tired but they were still there and fighting every ball.
“The managers have the option to make the substitutions but the manager decides whether to apply or not. I thought less substitutions would be less extra time so that’s why.”
Guardiola also explained his post-match reactions to the win, where he took his squad around all four stands of the Etihad to thank them for their contributions during the game. He had previously asked for fans to support the team through the difficult moments against Newcastle.
He said: “I would like to do it every single game, it is our gratitude for our fans. They come to see us, why can’t we share the moment together.”
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