Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his decision not to use James McAtee or academy players more often this season
Pep Guardiola is still putting his faith in Manchester City's experienced professionals to get them out of their crisis.
Guardiola has a deliberately small squad, but as well as injuries savaging his selections the manager has also opted not to turn to the less experienced members of his group. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was tried as an emergency centre-back at Sporting and Brighton but hasn't started since and James McAtee has just one appearance in the Premier League in this time - as an 89th minute sub in the 3-0 win over Forest.
City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain is a big fan of McAtee and Guardiola always praises him highly - on Friday he said the player was one of their options for when Erling Haaland needs a rest - yet so far this year has turned to him in neither the good nor the bad moments.
"Maybe it is unfair, maybe I'm wrong - it has happened in the past - but I had the feeling that in the bad moments the players who have to show and prove who we are as a team and what they have done in the past, I have to give them the keys to try to lead us to try and turn around the situation.
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