Pep Guardiola has admitted he didn’t really want to play Manuel Akanji in last night’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United.
City crashed out of the competition, with Alexander Isak scoring the game’s only goal just after half-time.
City dominated the game in the first-half, and young Oscar Bobb really impressed, but the team struggled to properly test Nick Pope.
Newcastle had the best chance of the half when Jacob Murphy was played in, but Stefan Ortega Moreno made a fine stop with his foot.
That was a warning sign for City, and then sure enough, 10 minutes into the second-half, Isak scored for a much improved Newcastle.
City then just couldn’t break the Magpies down.
Guardiola rung the changes last night, but there was still a place in the side for Akanji – and Guardiola said afterwards that he didn’t really want to play him.
Pep Guardiola admits he didn’t want to play Manuel Akanji last night vs Newcastle
Pep was able to give a rest to defenders Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker last night.
The Spaniard had said that both players were ‘exhausted’.
But he could not do the same for Akanji, who played another 90 minutes.
On the Swiss defender, he said: “Unfortunately I played Manu Akanji [vs Newcastle] that I would’ve liked to rest. But that was the decision, as always, I have done…”
Akanji has now featured in all but one of City’s games this season across all competitions.
He has played 90 minutes every single time, missing only the game with Sheffield United on August 27.
Akanji is due for a rest
Akanji has played a lot of football so far this season which is actually somewhat surprising.
He was outstanding last season in his first term following his £15 million transfer.
But the arrival of Josko Gvardiol perhaps threatened his minutes.
That has just not been the case so far though, with Akanji – who Sam Allardyce branded ‘unbelievable’ earlier this year – seemingly second in the pecking order behind Ruben Dias.
Hopefully, he will get a well earned rest soon.
