Pep Guardiola has one of the most difficult jobs in football as Manchester City boss.
All eyes are on Guardiola to ensure his team win major silverware season after season; with the expectations for himself and his team being sky-high at all times.
But aside from the scale of the targets the £378,846-a-week man has to achieve every year, keeping a squad consisting of top players happy is a seemingly impossible task.
Every season, the Manchester City boss’ selections are bound to disappoint one player or another.
But considering how Guardiola’s decisions tend to lead to City’s success, it is difficult to point a finger at him for making big calls.
For instance, despite starting in 31 Premier League matches last season, Julian Alvarez admitted it was “annoying” for him to be excluded out of certain big games.
- Who is Julian Alvarez? The story of the striker who won it all at Man City before joining Atletico Madrid
Walker questions major Guardiola decision
As far back as in June, Fabrizio Romano revealed Alvarez was keen on playing regular football.
However, from Guardiola’s perspective, he gave the Argentine a lot of minutes last season and as soon as Kevin De Bruyne hit form, it was hard to exclude him out of his side.
While the now-Atletico Madrid striker fared well playing in the hole, De Bruyne is arguably the best number 10 in world football; making the City boss’ decision straightforward.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Kyle Walker initially gave his thoughts on the 24-year-old’s exit: “He is going to be a miss. I think for how he stepped in when Erling [Haaland] was injured, I think it was phenomenal. Obviously, just coming off the success that he had with the World Cup to then hit the form that he did so early, I think it was great but first and foremost, he is a great guy, he is a great guy and that’s what put him above the rest.”
However, Walker feels that at times, Alvarez could have been played more by Pep Guardiola during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
“Because sometimes, he probably should have played when he didn’t, he probably felt that he should have played when he didn’t and obviously Erling going and breaking the records that he did, he kind of played second fiddle to him. He has got a point to prove now. Atletico have paid a lot of money and invested in him now, City have left him go.”
Pep Guardiola played Julian Alvarez as much as he could
With Erling Haaland and De Bruyne being arguably the best players in the world in their respective positions, it is difficult to see how Alvarez could have played more than he already did at City.
Out wide as well, the Copa America winner was given the odd chance such as during Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Brentford last season.
But the two-time Premier League champion did not look at his very best as a wideman due to playing out of position.
As a striker and playing in the hole behind Haaland, Manchester City simply had too much quality and yet, Alvarez was able to play an important role in their success; a level of responsibility that he should be satisfied to have even been handed when he reflects on his time in England.
