Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed his logic behind sometimes overlooking performing players is to intentionally make them “angry” so it yields a response on the pitch when they do get back into the team.
Jeremy Doku managed four assists as well as goal of his own during Saturday’s thrashing of Bournemouth, which was off the back of just three minutes as a substitute in the Manchester derby a week earlier. Jack Grealish had shone at Old Trafford, but was then left an unused sub.
“I want Jack angry and I want him to play good. And then Doku – be angry that he hasn’t played the last two games. This is the way to maintain the consistency at that level,” Guardiola said.
“As much as Jeremy and Jack perform, and I can play both at the same time, but when they don’t [play], train better the next day because the moment is coming, and when you are mentally there in the head you will perform well,” he added.
“The way [Grealish] played at Old Trafford, to give us more composure and more powers in that position, it was decisive for us. We need everyone. There are a lot of games and everyone has to compete. Then we will win games and you will be happy and everyone will be happy.”
City are swiftly back in action in the Champions League on Tuesday night when Swiss side Young Boys visit the Etihad Stadium. The reigning European champions have won all three of their group games so far and will book their place in the knockouts – with two games to spare – for the 11th straight season if they win again this week.
