City defender mixes in with away support

PEP Guardiola has watched the video footage of Taylor Harwood-Bellis supporting his City team-mates at Everton ... and he loves it!

The Blues boss saw the 17-year-old, who was in with the away supporters at Goodison Park, chanting ‘City! City!’ while with friends from the academy.

Some managers might be worried that their young players are using up energy by travelling to away games and getting involved like the rest of the support – but not Guardiola.

“When I was a teenager I always went to watch the games,” he said. “I didn’t go in the crowd with the fans, singing the songs - there were no songs at Barcelona - but it’s nice.

“I like it. I like the players who commit here like Phil (Foden). They have the connection with our fans.

“I think he will be a central defender for this club and the Premier League. I have that feeling, maybe I’m wrong.

“Hopefully he can work with the way he is working because it is difficult to play in the first team in the Carabao Cup and Premier League and then go to the academy the week after, and play there the same way.

“That is the most difficult thing but Eric (Garcia) has done it many times, and Taylor can do it, and so can the others, like Tommy Doyle for example.

“What I don’t want is to play one player in the first team, him play one, two or three times and afterwards disappear. We want these players to stay here 10 years, 12 years, and make a career. There is a time when these young players will arrive. I promise you.”