- Pep Guardiola admits Man City players were fatigued after demanding Arsenal win
- City went top of the Premier League with 1-0 win away at Burnley on Wednesday night
- Guardiola admitted after the win he was doubtful over certain team selection decisions
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he was in two minds over his team selection against Burnley after the weekend win over Arsenal.
City returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Turf Moor on Wednesday courtesy of an early Erling Haaland goal on the break as the Blues extended their winning run to five games in all competitions.
Guardiola’s side won a titanic clash against Arsenal at the weekend that gave them huge confidence of hijacking the Gunners’ lead at the summit and victory in City’s game in hand over Burnley has put them top of the Premier League for the first time since August 2025.
Match Report & Player Ratings: Burnley 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League)
It seemed as if the title had slipped out of Manchester City‘s hands after they fell to successive draws against Nottingham Forest and West Ham in March but the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal has given the Blues a new lease of life as they vie for a domestic treble.
Guardiola: Man City players were drained after Arsenal win
In an honest post-match admission, Guardiola admitted that he was doubtful over his starting XI against Burnley after the physical and mental demands of Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal from the weekend.
“I had a lot of doubts about the line-up today (against Burnley) because of the fatigue from Sunday (against Arsenal),” the Manchester City manager said in a press conference after Haaland’s strike relegated the Clarets to the EFL Championship.
Rodri missed the trip to Turf Moor with a calf injury – the full extent of which remains unknown and so does when the Blues can expect their Ballon d’Or winning star back.
Nico Gonzalez was expected to start in holding midfield but had to settle for a place on the bench as Rayan Ait-Nouri came in at left-back to allow Nico O’Reilly to move into midfield in place of the injured Rodri.
I have to get Southampton XI perfect, says Guardiola
Manchester City turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend as they travel to Wembley to face Southampton in the semi-final, having put Liverpool to the sword in an emphatic 4-0 drubbing in the quarter-final.
Goal difference caveat can’t distract Manchester City in Premier League run-in, says Pep Guardiola
Guardiola has admitted that he needs to get his selection calls just right between now and the end of the season as City bid for a domestic treble to give departing captain Bernardo Silvaa fitting send-off after nine seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
“I have to think perfectly about (the Manchester City line-up against Southampton), knowing that if we win it will be a good decision and if we lose it will be a bad decision, to have a little bit fresh legs in the FA Cup semi-final,” Guardiola added.
Savinho, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush and Tijjani Reijnders could all come in to freshen up the attack as Manchester City aim to reach the FA Cup final, where they will face either Chelsea or Leeds United.
