Guardiola missed a perfect
UNLIKE him, but Pep Guardiola missed a trick on Saturday. His decision to go one short to Burnley may have made a point about the rough treatment his players have been receiving of late, but it also denied an opportunity to a young player — a chance to reward a junior member of staff, to show him his good work was being noticed. It did not matter that Manchester City’s Under 23s were in action on Friday night. They were at home to Swansea; Burnley is 45 minutes up the road. A junior could have travelled after the match or first thing in the morning. It’s not as if he was needed to actually play. Just be there. Travel with the team to Turf Moor. Warm-up. See his name on the team-sheet. Hear Pep Guardiola’s team talk, study his players’ response. A fabulous learning experience, one any young player with ambition would appreciate.
Don’t pick the best player. Pick the most deserving. Go to Simon Davies, manager of the Under 23 squad, and ask him who his top performer is this season. Not the finest footballer, not the kid on the brink of a firstteam call-up, the shooting star who gets all the attention anyway. Ask him who is his hardest worker, his most improved, his best listener, the one who arrives early, stays behind and does extra, the one who is really trying to make an impression and get to the top. And name him, with that proud, public explanation. Be honest. Tell him he’s not going to play, but his commitment has been noted. Let it serve as a message to the rest, too. Yes, beautiful football is the aim; but hard work also counts. Instead, space filled the space on Manchester City’s bench. Maybe someone learned something from that, who knows?