Former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta believes Pep Guardiola should be using his top stars as usual in the final two Premier League games of the season and going ‘100%’ ahead of the two upcoming major finals.
City were confirmed as Premier League champions at the weekend.
It has been an amazing season so far. But it could be about to get even better.
On June 3, City go down to Wembley to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final. It is chance for Pep Guardiola to win the competition for only a second time.
One week later, City head to Istanbul to contest the Champions League final against Inter.
So it is a huge moment for the club.
And fans have been discussing the best approach ahead of those finals.
With the league title now wrapped up it is, theoretically, a chance for Pep to rest players that have featured heavily this campaign.
Certainly, there is logic in trying to have key players nice and fresh for two massive games.
But Zabaleta has been speaking on the ESPN FC YouTube channel, and reckons the best thing for Pep to do now is use his key players in the last two Premier League games against Brighton and Brentford.
And he thinks Erling Haaland in particular will be desperate to take to the field tonight against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
He said: “I think Pep is right. The best way to approach a big game or a final is by playing 100%. If he puts out a strong team next game against Brighton… I think Haaland would like to play, 100%, to score goals, because he wants to feel like he’s ready for the game against United.
“He wants to be prepared for the Inter game, the Champions League final. I think as a football player sometimes this is the best mindset, the best way to prepare for the next game. I think Pep is really good on this. He wants to keep the momentum going. He doesn’t want to drop the intensity.”
Pep Guardiola must find the right balance against Brighton and Brentford, but Pablo Zabaleta makes a good point
Pep’s final two Premier League teamsheets will make for very interesting reading.
Zabaleta is probably right though. Freshness in football is important. But momentum is also key.
City are in the groove right now and it does make sense for the top stars to feature prominently against Brighton and Brentford.
It could be though that we see some fringe players in the starting XI for the next two games, but mostly key men who are definitely going to start both finals.
And it would certainly be good for £51 million man Haaland to get amongst the goals tonight or on Sunday, just so that momentum is there for united and Inter.
