Why I made nine changes against Chelsea – Pep Guardiola reveals
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made nine changes to Manchester City’s starting XI for the game against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Manchester City were already Premier League before the game against Chelsea following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
“One of the biggest disappointments I think you have as a manager is with the people who don’t play regularly. For me it’s tough,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“Sergio, Kalvin Phillips especially, two incredible personalities, how they help us in their behaviours. Maybe they didn’t have the minutes they deserve.
“So when the situation is done, I’m delighted to play them. That doesn’t mean they’re going to play the next games.
“The players like today, they rest because they played a lot of minutes in the last few weeks with a lot of tension and adrenaline in the highest level.
“For me, it’s important for them to rest one game, everyone play a few minutes and get ready for the next two games because we cannot drop much our rhythm, otherwise the finals will be more difficult.”