Pep Guardiola spoke about Julian Alvarez after the 1-1 draw with Chelsea – and insisted the reason he’s played so much this season is because he deserves it.
City dropped points against the Blues at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri’s second-half goal cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s opener, and there are still feelings of frustration that City couldn’t take all three points.
Some contentious decisions left Rodri unhappy after the game, but Chelsea did defend well and will feel they were worth a point.
City are back in action tomorrow night against Brentford and can go just one point behind Liverpool with a win, but it’s a quick turnaround and it could be a tough game.
It will be interesting to see if Julian Alvarez starts, as he has done all season in the Premier League…
Pep Guardiola says Julian Alvarez keeps starting for Manchester City because he deserves it
Guardiola was asked about Julian Alvarez – a player he recently branded ‘extraordinary’ after the draw with Chelsea.
Impressively, the £14 million star has started every single game for City so far this season and the Argentine has had a mostly brilliant campaign.
But just recently, he’s actually come in for a bit of criticism on social media for some sub-par displays as an attacking midfielder.
Some believe Pep is doing his best to keep Alvarez in the team when it may not be for the best, and the manager has now explained why the 24-year-old plays so much.
He said (via Beanyman Sports): “He’s a guy with a sense of goal, the movements between lines, when teams defend so deep – which happens quite often – having a guy with a sense of goal is important.
“He plays because he deserves it. In the absence of Erling for two months he was a key, key player with Phil. Really good in those terms.”
Alvarez has deserved his minutes, but they must now dry up
There is no question that Alvarez has deserved the many minutes he’s had this season for City.
He’s had a brilliant campaign and really stepped up when Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were out injured.
But just recently, he hasn’t really been effective operating in midfield.
Yes, he is a goal threat, and he does strike a ball well from the edge of the area and is often the only one who’ll do that. But with De Bruyne back now and Phil Foden having had some incredible performances as a number 10, it rather feels that Alvarez is being shoehorned into the starting XI at the moment.
It is understandable that Pep wants to keep playing him, but the manager might have to get ruthless with the South American to unlock City’s best possible level.
