Pep Guardiola admitted that some of his players were tired before Manchester City’s Premier League win against Leicester City on Saturday.
The Manchester City manager named an unusual side at the King Power Stadium, leaving England stars Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and John Stones, as well as Ilkay Gundogan, on the bench following the international break.
Left-back Benjamin Mendy opened the scoring with a well-taken finish before Gabriel Jesus tapped in from Sterling’s pass, as City’s squad depth was shown in a 2-0 win.
Victory, their 15th in succession away from home, put Man City 17 points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of next weekend’s game against Leeds United.
Man City host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday and Guardiola said he had to consider match fitness in his team selection.
"Yesterday, the players came back and I spoke with some of them - some of them were tired," he said post-match.
"Three games in 10 days with a lot of travel - and we tried to put out as fresh legs as possible, except Nathan (Ake), which was a pity.
"The rest of the players were here in Manchester and the players that didn't play the last game on international duty were ready to play.
"Our commitment was good in terms of the ball, more patient than we were in the first game at the Etihad.
“Winning 1-0 we were nervous, and you have to be patient to attack Leicester because they defend so strong and deep and punish you with a counter. We were pleased, a good victory and another step."
Man City are still fighting on all four fronts in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple and Guardiola has rotated his squad regularly in recent months.
City have Dortmund in the last eight of the Champions League on Tuesday before they face Leeds on Saturday, while they also have an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on April 17, and the Carabao Cup final against Tottenham on April 25 to consider.
Gundogan, Stones, Ake, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva did not even make it onto the pitch against Leicester but could be used against Dortmund.
Man City now need just 11 points from their remaining seven matches to seal a third league crown in four seasons.
