After Man City returned to winning form with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that he has “unfairly” treated one of his players this season. The match saw City break a streak of just one win in their previous 13 games across all competitions. While Guardiola’s team struggled to find their best performance, Leicester City managed to create several clear scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize.
James McAtee Shines As Guardiola Reflects On Missed Opportunities
Manchester City academy graduate James McAtee made a remarkable impact after coming off the bench in his third Premier League appearance of the season. The 22-year-old, who was linked with a potential move away in the summer, ultimately stayed at the club after Pep Guardiola expressed a desire to keep him. Guardiola has now admitted that McAtee deserved more opportunities this season and highlighted the “most pleasing” aspect of the midfielder’s performance. “It’s not in question – not because of our performance today, but rather because of what has happened in the past. Sometimes, there are things that feel unfair,” Guardiola reflected.
Guardiola Praises McAtee’s Maturity And Impact
“Sometimes, in the situations you face, you feel inclined to hand responsibility to the senior players rather than the young ones. However, senior players often carry more pressure, while young players have nothing to lose and are eager to prove themselves. They aim to conquer the world.
Before the game, I had the feeling that if I needed to make a substitution, James would be the first choice. I trusted my instincts. It doesn’t matter if he plays on the wings, in pockets, or even as a striker.”
“What pleases me most is that every action he took was positive. He didn’t make a single wrong decision. Defensively, he has matured greatly during his time at Sheffield, which has made him much more composed – even with the challenges he faced there in terms of playing time.”
Guardiola Reflects On McAtee’s Growth And 500th Game
Guardiola praised James McAtee as part of an exceptional generation of City talents, including Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, and others, with McAtee serving as the captain. He admitted that, despite not giving McAtee the minutes he deserved, he always believed the midfielder could play at this level.
“I’m pleased for him. He’s a great guy, trains hard, and earned his minutes. The pitch is where you prove yourself, and Macca did that today.”
On his 500th game in charge, Guardiola explained his decision to avoid making significant changes for the Leicester City match. “We either need to make significant changes or stick with what we have. I believed today’s lineup was solid, with the focus on bringing calm to the players and getting others back to full fitness. It all comes down to the players’ mindset – altering that is the hardest part.”
