Erling Haaland and Phil Foden are not starting for Manchester City against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium after being left out of the line-up by Pep Guardiola
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden celebrate victory
Manchester City pair Erling Haaland and Phil Foden do not start against Wolverhampton Wanderers for (Image: Getty Images)
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Pep Guardiola has explained why Erling Haaland and Phil Foden do not start for Manchester City against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush replace them in attack, while skipper Bernardo Silva, debutant Marc Guehi and the returning Matheus Nunes also come in. Rico Lewis, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Max Alleyne make way for them.
Speaking ahead of kick-off on his decision to bench Haaland, Guardiola told Sky Sports: "I decide for now it is a lot of games, clean his mind, his body. And yeah, the selection is always good and I believe today's is the best."
Foden and Haaland are the notable absentees from Guardiola's line-up for the visit of Wolves to Etihad Stadium, though. Both started the 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, with Haaland playing all 90 minutes.
Guardiola's only substitution in that defeat was to bring Foden off for Omar Marmoush after 70 minutes. The City manager acknowledged before the match: "He maintains, a little bit, broken his bones, but he has protection, and he is fine.
Foden came off at half-time of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last weekend after falling awkwardly and breaking his hand. Haaland, meanwhile, was also available in midweek after Guardiola claimed on Monday: "He said to me he slept unbelievably, so he is fit." City's manager also spoke about whether the striker can maintain his form from earlier this season.
He said: "It depends on his mind, and his fire, it will dictate it. As much as he’s not injured, he can play, yeah."
Clinton Morrison gave his immediate response to the news on Sky Sports. He said: "Maybe not (surprised to see Foden), but definitely Haaland.
"I don't care if he has scored one goal in eight games, he's the best striker in the Premier League and I know when you are creating chances, he will put the ball in the back of the net.
"I'm not saying (Guardiola) has one eye on Galatasaray, because this is a massive game and they need to respond and they need a win. It gives other players an opportunity. He's on the bench, if things don't work out."
City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush
Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis