Pep Guardiola expects every Manchester City player to play their part in the final six - or seven - games of the season, even if they haven't been playing much in recent weeks.
City have had five games to prepare for the Premier League trip to Everton after returning from the Champions League semi-final first leg at Real Madrid on Tuesday. However, Guardiola was unhappy that the Premier League scheduled the Everton game on Sunday rather than Saturday, meaning the Blues only have three days to prepare for the second leg vs Madrid.
With games coming thick and fast between now and the end of the season, and tiredness creeping into key players in recent weeks, Guardiola has told those players who have been out of favour recently that he still needs them.
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Guardiola described Nathan Ake as 'better' after the defender missed the Madrid trip with injury, but couldn't confirm if he would be available for Everton. And the manager justified his decision not to make a substitution in Madrid by declaring every player is ready to make a key contribution when called upon.
"Every player is ready to play and give his own absolute contribution," Guardiola said.
"I thought a lot to do a substitution in the Bernabeu, I decide for the fact the players on the bench are so dynamic. Phil [Foden], Julian [Alvarez], Riyad [Mahrez]. But in the moment we didn't need that, we didn’t need a player to increase our rhythm.
"The other players were more actions, in high level. But of course. Now everybody will be so important. We have a lot of games. Everyone is ready to make his own contribution.
"I try to make everyone involved. We'll see, have five days now, after have three, then four days to Chelsea. We'll see, now we see the team, after I speak with physios and staff and decide. There are a lot of games to choose, maybe they don't believe me but I rely on them a lot.
"There are players who are so so important for us, we will see if they can play every three to four days. What happened against Leeds people say they are tired. After the game is so demanding, then Goodison Park and a final against Madrid. It's a lot of games, when you play competitions is normal."
Despite sympathising with his players who may be flagging at this stage of the season, Guardiola said he also expects them to power through where possible with the prospect of three trophies still on offer.
"We are for sure going to play until 3rd June [FA Cup final]," he said.
"Next Wednesday we have to deserve to play one more week. The last six games, potentially seven. Not much, two to three weeks until end of the season. Go for it.
"Win helps to be better. If the previous game you win, mental recovery is better. Still we are alive is better. Human being has incredible resources to keep going, if you think exhausted you can. As much you are in the competitions.
"As much you are there, you can be tired, that's normal. If you are tired, I know, it's normal. At the same time if you desire mentally in the right position, the human being can have incredible energy you don't know you have."
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