Erling Haaland has been given the final day of the season off with the striker left out of Manchester City’s squad for Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge.
Guardiola, whose exit was confirmed on Friday after 10 years at the Etihad, has made nine changes from Tuesday’s draw at Bournemouth that handed Arsenal the title.
On what is set to be an emotional farewell, the manager has instead offered starts to long-time players Bernardo Silva and John Stones, as well as the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Phil Foden.
Antoine Semenyo and captain Silva, who along with Stones will also be departing at the end of the season, are the only survivors from Tuesday night.
Haaland and Nico O’Reilly are absent from the squad, with both players set to now travel to the World Cup with Norway and England respectively after long seasons. Haaland is on course to win the Premier League Golden Boot, and is five goals clear of Brentford’s Igor Thiago with 27 this season.
“It’s a mix, a lot of players who didn’t play for a long time,” Guardiola said. “We want a standing ovation for Bernardo and John. If it was the final game to win the Premier League, the selection wouldn’t be the same.
“A lot of players have had a lot of minutes in the last games. A lot of them have been incredible, what they have done for this club. I am more than satisfied to give them the chance to play today.”
City’s opponents Aston Villa won the Europa League on Wednesday and have also made several changes, with Ollie Watkins, Victor Lindelof and Emi Buendia the only survivors from Istanbul.
Man City XI: Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ake, Nico, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho, Semenyo
Subs: Bettinelli, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Nunes, Alleyne.
