Manchester City could have to make a rotation for manager Josep Guardiola, with three Premier League games and the FA Cup final crammed into the final two weeks of the season.
Pep Guardiola could rotate Erling Haaland to keep him fresh (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Manager Josep Guardiola was impressed by Omar Marmouche’s impact against Brentford and suggested Erling Haaland could be rested. Marmouche came off the bench to score against the Bees on Saturday, giving his manager something to think about ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace.
Haaland has started 33 of City’s 35 league games this season, scoring 26 goals, including the win against Brentford. However, with City facing a pile of games, the Norwegian goal machine may have to start on the bench.
City have three Premier League games in hand, with the FA Cup final crammed into two weeks after the match against Palace was ultimately postponed. They host Palace on Wednesday, face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday and finish the league campaign with matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Guardiola was pleased with the impact Marmouche, Phil Foden and Sabinho made against Brentford and hopes to freshen up his squad on Wednesday.
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As reported by the Manchester Evening News, when asked if the starting XI could change for future matches due to substitutions, Guardiola said: “Yes, especially Omar. It’s not easy because usually you play with one striker. He’s a proper striker and Erling is there as well.”
“Erling is very important for us. But Omar’s contribution is always to play the number of goals, and the percentage of playing time is very high. So it’s really good. We talked a lot.”
“I know it won’t be easy for them, but I’m sure they’ll play in the next game. I want to rotate the team, because otherwise we won’t even get to the final or Bournemouth… We’ll see the result tomorrow and after we make the decision.”
Omar Marmouche gave his decision to Pep Guardiola (Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The result put Arsenal in pole position to win the Premier League after defeating West Ham 1-0 on Sunday. The Gunners lead City by five points, so Mikel Arteta’s side need to win their remaining two games against Burnley and Palace to lift the trophy.
Guardiola has vocally complained about City’s difficult end to the season, but says his side have no choice but to accept it. “As always, we don’t know about the generosity towards the Premier League,” he said.
“So this schedule was really good. But that’s the reality. That’s the reality, we accept it. I’ve always said, don’t play the FA Cup final, this schedule won’t work.”
“We’re in the final, we’ve got this schedule, and we want to schedule the Champions League semi-finals in the middle of the title race. We were there. We were in that dynamic when we won the treble. So I’m really happy.”
“As fit as you guys (players) are, we’re as fit. When you have the energy, it’s easy to say, ‘Okay, substitute, Jeremy, put the ball in the net in a minute.’ But we want the energy and Omar is the energy. And Phil will give you that, you know, and you need all of them. So as long as you guys are fit, you guys can do it, just like we did it.”
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