Manchester (Reuters)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he would closely monitor the behavior of his players over the Christmas period and warned any uncommitted player off the pitch to be left out of the Premier League leaders’ squad.
Jack Grealish and Phil Foden participated in City’s 7-0 thrashing of Leeds United last week, before being taken to the bench without a foot in the 4-0 win over Newcastle United this week, while Guardiola said the decision to exclude them was not about giving them a rest.
The newspaper “Telegraph” published a picture of the England duo while spending an evening after the big victory over Leeds.
Guardiola said: No. It’s not about the rotation policy. I chose this squad because it deserves to be played… not the other players.”
“During the Christmas period I will focus a lot on behavior on and off the field, and when the behavior is not good off the field, the player will not be able to participate.”
He continued, “We have to be focused all the time because of the distraction during the Christmas period and with everything that is happening… We must maintain our focus.”
City will play Leicester City on December 26.
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