Pundit left stunned by what he’s heard from Pep Guardiola after Man City vs Real Madrid

Redaction Simon Brett with James Thompson
Published on 2024-04-18 10:00:00

Craig Burley was shocked by Pep Guardiola’s revelation that Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland asked to be substituted off during extra time in Manchester City’s recent match against Real Madrid. Burley expressed disbelief at the idea of players requesting to be taken off during such a crucial game, especially when they were not visibly injured. He questioned whether fatigue was a valid reason for De Bruyne and Haaland to be substituted, considering the importance of the match and their ages.

De Bruyne and Haaland both played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Real Madrid, with Haaland being substituted at the start of extra time and De Bruyne later on. While Haaland had fewer touches of the ball and may have been feeling the effects of constant movement and runs, De Bruyne’s injury history and work rate on the pitch were factors that could have contributed to his request to be taken off. Despite City still having other competitions to compete in this season, Guardiola’s decision to replace the players if they were unable to continue was deemed a safe choice.

Considering that City still have the FA Cup and Premier League to play for, it is understandable why Guardiola may have taken the decision to substitute De Bruyne and Haaland if they felt they could not carry on. While it may have been surprising at the time, prioritizing the players’ well-being and potential risk of further injury in a high-stakes game like the Champions League quarter-final was the sensible choice. Guardiola’s decision to prioritize the long-term fitness of his key players could benefit City in their pursuit of success in other competitions.

Read Full article on Manchester City News