Pep Guardiola has indicated he will make changes for Manchester City’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford, but will include a “father figure” to avoid repeating the error of the defeat by Bayer Leverkusen last month.
Guardiola made 10 changes for the 2-0 Champions League group game loss at the Etihad Stadium, the first time he had done so in his career. Nico González was the sole player retained from the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle three days earlier. While Guardiola will start James Trafford in goal on Wednesday evening for the visit of Keith Andrews’ team, alongside players who did not feature in the 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, and some from the academy, a senior player will be included to provide leadership.
“I know they [Brentford] are good, they are top, the problem against Leverkusen was not having a father figure on the pitch,” Guardiola said. “There are players where it is not about their quality; it is about how they lead and about being safe. Some players, because of age or the process are unable to say: ‘It doesn’t matter what happens’ [be brave]. But other players, they make their teammate think: ‘I am safe’ and will behave how they do.
“I have to find that. That is a lesson I learned; that you have to find that balance. But of course there are players with lots of minutes. We travelled to Crystal Palace and three days later we play – we don’t have much time to recover. I have to, with the physios and doctors, see because the really important game is West Ham [on Saturday]. After West Ham we have seven days to recover [for Nottingham Forest away] but West Ham, I’m sorry it’s so important.”
Trafford has made six appearances for City after his £27m move from Burnley in July, the most recent coming against Leverkusen. “James is going to play,” Guardiola said. “And all the players who didn’t play against Palace plus some from the academy. I am not saying it’s not the priority to reach the semi-final [of the Carabao Cup] but when we have done it before it is because we have all the squad, no injuries; we can rotate and the team is good and we get to the latter stage.”
John Stones and Rodri are not available to face Brentford, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are now with Egypt and Algeria respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations. Jérémy Doku’s leg injury also rules out the winger for up to three weeks.
Guardiola said Trafford will not be loaned out in January. “Absolutely. I have no news on that [from] the player or agents. I always say that. He’s an incredible keeper. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi [Donnarumma] is the first-choice keeper. He will be with us this season and after we will see what happens.”
