Guardiola Defends Trafford Selection After Error In Manchester City’s Defeat By Spurs

Pep Guardiola defended selecting James Trafford up of Ederson and claimed Manchester City mislaid 2-0 to Tottenham because “we missed nan elemental things”.

After nan head decided to sanction Ederson arsenic a substitute astatine nan Etihad Stadium, he saw a sloppy shot from Trafford lead to João Palhinha scoring Spurs’ 2nd extremity astatine nan extremity of nan first half. The 22-year-old goalkeeper, who rejoined City from Burnley for £31m this summer, tried to find Nico González but passed alternatively to Pape Matar Sarr, nan shot yet reaching Palhinha.

Ederson is considering his early astatine City. While nan nine do not want nan Brazilian to depart, Guardiola was asked if this was a facet successful choosing to commencement Trafford, who kept his spot aft playing successful past Saturday’s 4-0 triumph astatine Wolves. The head said: “He made a bully first game, James, and I decided to continue. When I return decisions successful nan first portion of nan play – for each nan players you play 1 aliases 2 [games] – everyone thinks: ‘OK, this is nan starting lineup.’ It was conscionable coming I decided that.”

Brennan Johnson had opened nan scoring and while City had chances their capacity was disjointed. Guardiola said: “We missed nan elemental things. The effort and moving is bonzer and I person nary doubts astir that. It’s been really good. But we missed nan elemental things – [for example] publication amended what we should do. We created chances, we created enough. It happened, it’s football. It’s conscionable nan 2nd game. The past crippled versus Wolves everyone said everything was good but I said: ‘It’s conscionable nan first game.’ It’s nan aforesaid now.

“We person to improve. Step by measurement until we make it click and person bully connections. Now, we person 7 days of remainder and past it is Brighton.”

Thomas Frank was peculiarly pleased pinch Palhinha, who is connected a season’s indebtedness from Bayern Munich. He referenced really Spurs person seemingly missed retired connected signing Eberechi Eze because of nan Crystal Palace forward’s penchant for Arsenal.

“I deliberation it is adjacent to opportunity we sewage a fewer questions astir nan transportation market, why not and what if, but we brought 2 apical players into nan club,” nan Tottenham head said. “Palhinha – wow, sometimes players request assurance and I don’t deliberation he is afloat fresh yet but very pleased pinch his performance.”

Frank denied utilizing Eze’s determination arsenic inspiration for nan victory. “That is very easy [to answer],” nan Dane said. “Never ever usage 1 connection astir 1 subordinate not astatine our club.”

Spurs are yet to concede successful nan convention aft past Saturday’s 3-0 triumph against Burnley. Frank said: “The cleanable expanse makes maine very happy, it is simply a large point we person been moving on. Blocking shots, everything. Last twelvemonth we had six cleanable sheets.”

Manuel Akanji, who was near retired of nan City squad for tactical reasons, is attracting liking from Galatasaray. The value for nan 30-year-old defender would beryllium a minimum £15m.