Here are your Manchester City morning headlines for Monday, 30 November.
Guardiola calls on defenders to stamp out errors
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has challenged his defenders to avoid making mistakes if they want to keep their place in the starting line-up.
Guardiola once again opted for a central defensive pairing of John Stones and Ruben Dias in Saturday’s win over Burnley with the duo having also started last week’s Champions League victory against Olympiakos.
Aymeric Laporte was not involved against Burnley with Guardiola stressing the importance of his defenders maintaining their concentration.
"We played two already with John [Stones]," said Guardiola. "In pre-season, it was difficult to fulfil that. Some of the time it was because of my decision but most of the time it was because of injuries.
"It is good because he was so concentrated on not making mistakes
"What we are looking for from the back four is ‘don’t make mistakes’. If your opponents are good and you make a good action, it is not about this. Make mistakes when you can avoid it, then people up front are going to score the goals."
Richards buoyed by Stones return to form
Micah Richards says he is glad to see Stones back in the City team after revealing that he had a conversation with the defender prior to the start of the season.
Stones fell down the pecking order last season and struggled for games in the early weeks of the current campaign before re-establishing himself alongside Dias.
And Richards believes it is the product of the centre-back’s determination to regain Guardiola’s favour.
“It has been difficult for him,” Richards told Match of the Day.
“I actually spoke to him and he was really open and honest about his season. He said he was going to work hard and that is what he did today, he really did.
“He started the game with intent and won his first header, which just gives you that confidence. He can also do this part of the game: spraying the ball wide. Today, he was spot on.
“He has got the ability in abundance to play the ball into feet and he did really well to hold it up. He did this all afternoon and he fully deserves that, because when you’re not playing your best you want to take that chance when you get it, and he did that today.”
Guardiola not interested in resting players in CL
Guardiola has said that he is not interested in resting players for the Champions League as he looks to maintain the momentum achieved from City’s last two results.
City recovered from defeat by Tottenham Hotspur to secure much-needed wins over Olympiacos and Burnley, with the former result securing their spot in the Champions League knockout rounds with two games to spare.
However, Guardiola insists he will continue to pick the best players for each game regardless of the circumstances.
"It’s not about rest here," he said. "I saw Kevin [De Bruyne] a little bit exhausted mentally, that’s true. But right now I see the players who are in better conditions or more focused.
"If the players think they have been rested because I am rotating, they have made a big mistake. Every game I pick the best players, sometimes for the benefit of the team, sometimes because of injuries, but especially the players who play well.
"Any players who believe they deserve to start because they have been here for three or four years, they have a big mistake. Every player from the youngest in Phil Foden to the most experienced in Fernandinho deserves the same treatment and opportunities.
"It doesn't matter if you win a lot of titles in the past or you score a lot of goals - you have to show it on the patch, in the recent past, in the present and especially in the future."
