Here are your Manchester City morning headlines for Thursday, 1 October.
Guardiola explains team selection
Pep Guardiola has explained why he fielded a strong team for Wednesday’s EFL Cup win at Burnley.
Cole Palmer made his senior debut for the club but it was a star-studded line-up fielded for the 3-0 win at Turf Moor, with Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte all featuring.
Guardiola has revealed - ahead of a tricky game against Leeds this weekend - that his players wanted to bounce back following Sunday’s disappointing 5-2 loss at home to Leicester.
"It was for the rhythm, and because these players wanted to play," Guardiola said, as per the MEN.
"[The response to Sunday] was good. This competition is special to us and there is just two games - this one and Leeds on Saturday - before the international break. After our result [on Sunday], it was important today."
Pep verdict on Palmer debut
Cole Palmer made his senior debut for Manchester City in Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Burnley in the EFL Cup.
The 18-year-old started alongside De Bruyne at Turf Moor and while he did not score or provide an assist, he made an impression for Pep Guardiola’s side.
"He started a bit shy. That's normal but as the game through he's an incredible young lad," Guardiola explained, in quotes carried by the MEN.
"He has been training with us for two months, shown us a lot of things and is a new guy to come here. He has a good perspective and a good future in this club.
“He is a humble guy, he works a lot, with our counter-attacks he was so intuitive to help us run and he is a guy who finishes incredibly like Phil [Foden].
"He has his chance to score but his debut in the competition away against a Premier League team will be good for his future.
“Again, thank you so much to the academy and everyone working to secure all these young players years ago because what I get as a first team manager is what the academy have worked for. We are so delighted for them.”
City quoted Tagliafico asking price
Manchester City will need to pay £22.7million to sign left-back Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax, according to a report in the MEN.
Guardiola wants to add a new left-back to his squad before the transfer window closes on Monday, having already strengthened in the heart of the defence.
Tagliafico is viewed as a more attainable option than Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, but it remains to be seen if a deal will be done.
The Ajax defender would be open to a move to City, but the club have not yet made contact.
