Why didn’t Pep use a single sub?
PEP GUARDIOLA opted not to make any substitutions in the win against Fulham, despite campaigning strongly for the Premier League to follow other major European leagues and allow five changes per team.
Guardiola has stood alongside Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp this season in claiming the current maximum of three subs is not enough to protect players from injuries in this condensed Covidaffected season.
Yet he was happy to see his 11 starters last the full game in a routine victory with fixtures against Marseille (Wednesday) and Manchester United (Saturday) to come.
‘The team were more or less good. The guys who didn’t play today are going to play on Wednesday,’ he said. ‘I decided to put 90 minutes in their legs today and a fresh 90 minutes for the game on Wednesday. After Wednesday we’re going to see what the best selection is for United. For the last 25 minutes today, Kevin (De Bruyne) did feel a little bit tired.’
The number of substitutions permitted has been a hot topic all season with the bigger clubs involved in Europe wanting to increase the number to five. It led to a row between Klopp and Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, who feels a change would help teams with stronger squads. Guardiola made it clear after his side’s match against Liverpool that he supports the idea of five subs.
‘I don’t know how they don’t understand when all the leagues around the world except this one have five substitutions,; he added. ‘It is to protect players, to protect the physicality of playing every three days.’
With scorers Raheem Sterling and De Bruyne outstanding, the only complaint from Guardiola after consecutive league wins for the first time this season was that the winning margin wasn’t greater.
‘The finishing was wasteful. We know we have to improve this but it’s important to keep creating the chances. Sterling scored and won a penalty. It’s important for the players up front to be scoring goals. This season looks like there will be a lot of teams in contention. Everyone can beat everyone.’