Pep Guardiola defends his John Stones decision after Man City’s defeat to Palace

Pep Guardiola defends his decision to play John Stones ahead of Kevin de Bruyne in Manchester City’s loss to Crystal Palace. 

City lost their first home game of the season with their 2-3 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. It’s the first time Guardiola’s side have lost at the Etihad since the Manchester derby last season.

İlkay Gündoğan opened the scoring for the Citizens, but goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend saw the visitors take the lead before the break, then Luka Milivojević extended the Eagles’ lead after half time.

De Bruyne managed to get one back for the champions, but Palace managed to hold on until the full-time whistle to take away an impressive three points in Manchester.

Guardiola, who came under criticism for his team selection before and after the game, has defended his decision to leave stars Sergio Aguero and De Bruyne on the bench.

“When you win I am a genius, when you lose I am not good. I don’t know what would happen if Kevin start or Sergio [Aguero] starts,” he told the MEN.

“Dinho is injured, yesterday he felt again that problem. John played so good in Leicester so I wanted to give another option for the long balls. They are a strong team in the air and we decided to play him and He played good except one ball in the beginning.

“I admire, I give credit to people who try and adapt to positions they are not used to. In the second half I used Gundogan and De Bruyne in that position but that is when the game is more open and everyone defend deep. The game is more about counter-attacks and in that situation it is not necessary to be so precise in the way we attack.”

prior to the game Guardiola explained that his selection was influenced by injuries and a need to give her players in his squad an opportunity to play.

“In the last period everybody played, all the games was involved. Except injured players and we decided today, six or seven players didn’t play three day ago. [they] play today,” Guardiola told Sky.

When asked how Liverpool’s successful had effected his team the Spaniard insisted that he’s not concerned with Jurgen Klopp’s successes in the league.

Only three teams have scored 3+ goals away to Manchester City in the Premier League since Pep Guardiola took over as manager:

• Chelsea
• Manchester United
• Crystal Palace

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“Well they’re doing well, but we can not be involved with what Liverpool has done or is doing. And they’re rivals. We can only be focused with what we can do.

“So, yesterday’s result doesn’t matter. They could’ve won, they could draw, they could’ve lost. We have to do our job in trying to win the game and that’s why we are here at 3 o’clock.”

Manchester had not given Liverpool room to breath until now. The Reds won again on the road against Wolves on Friday, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 18 games. City, who have now lost twice this season, will have to make up a four-point gap to catch Liverpool.

The Reds do have a tougher run of fixtures with Arsenal and then City on the bounce over the festive period. City’s next game is against Leicester City on Boxing Day.

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