Pep Guardiola has given many players their Manchester City debuts during his time in charge of the club.
Specifically, Guardiola has given numerous players from City’s academy their first taste of senior football since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium back in 2016.
One of those more recent academy debutants is Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who came on for his first City appearance as a second-half substitute in their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup.
After this game, Simpson-Pusey shared a post on his Instagram page saying that he was “proud” to make his senior debut for the Citizens.
The defender then went on to make his first start for the club in their recent 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League.
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Simpson-Pusey glad he chose to stay at City in the summer
Speaking in a recent interview with Manchester World, Simpson-Pusey opened up about his decision to stay at City in the summer rather than head out on loan and how he is now learning from Guardiola.
He said: “I feel like because I’m training over there and being around the best and having the best manager in the world coach you, this [staying] was the best thing to do.
“Going out will give you experience, but not the experience you would get from staying here.
“When he [Guardiola] speaks I just listen. There’s nothing else to do. I just feel like I have to listen because he’s the best manager in the world. It’s great to be in and around.”
Guardiola has been impressed by ‘incredible’ Simpson-Pusey
The 19-year-old reportedly had several League One clubs looking to sign him on loan during the previous summer transfer window, although he chose to stay at the Manchester club.
Despite the defeat in Portugal, Guardiola called Simpson-Pusey “incredible” in terms of the performance he put in against Ruben Amorim’s side.
With John Stones and Ruben Dias making up a section of City’s injury list, it could be likely that the teenager sees some action during this weekend’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion where he could make his first top-flight appearance for the Blues.
If this does end up being the case and he goes on to impress the City boss again, this would further showcase just how much of a capable player he is despite his inexperience and why it was such a good decision from him to stay at the club in the summer rather than take the chance to potentially play regularly out on loan elsewhere.
