Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola said that Nico Gonzalez had a 'knock to the feet' as Manchester City hope he will be fit to take on [Aston Villa](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) at the weekend.
Gonzalez has been playing as a holding midfielder in the absence of Rodri, with the Spaniard out for this week with the injury he picked up at Brentford. Gonzalez started in Villarreal for City in the Champions League but had to come off in the second half after a rough challenge from Thomas Partey.
City's midfielder immediately asked to come off and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic, who played the final 35 minutes. The Blues are hopeful that the injury is nothing serious, but will have to wait to see how Gonzalez settles.
"Nico had a knock on his feet, we will see," said Guardiola.
City opened up a two-goal lead in the first half and had chances to add to it after the break. However, they also allowed Villarreal to threaten their goal, with Renato Veiga hitting the post late on after Gianluigi Donnarumma had produced an excellent save to keep out Pape Gueye's effort.
Guardiola wanted more possession in the Villarreal half in the second half but could excuse goalscorer Erling Haaland for some tiredness.
"We always talk about the way you pass the ball. Always I tell them to see the movement of the opponent first. Then decide. The first half was really good. We brought the opponent there (deep) but in the second half? No.
"John Stones, Matheus, keeper, Gvardiol, Kovacic, keeper. This is not a positional game. Football is about the opponent's half. When we did that it was really good. We need more fresh movement for Erling and more runs in behind but it didn't happen.
"There are actions in the second half we are incredible and break the lines and still we go back. No. When the opponent comes you have to (bring them) close, break the lines, then left, right, middle. Now go, attack. You don't have to wait.
"Sometimes that is what we missed and why we suffered a bit more in the second half. Rayan arrived and in one action went zoom (forward). Matheus in one action zoom. We didn't do it enough in the second half.
"But when we are there we need the patience to know exactly when is the right moment. I love when we come here and we come back again, come back again, come back again, and then the right moment we break the lines. It was so clever because Savio especially and John waited."
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