2 years ago
Pep Guardiola explains why Manchester City is allowing Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling to leave.
Manchester City stars Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling could both leave the Etihad in the coming months, according to Pep Guardiola, who has opened up about their possible departures.
Manchester City are willing to let Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling leave because they understand the desire of players to be selected on a regular basis, according to Pep Guardiola.
The pair are set to leave the Etihad this summer, with the former set to join Arsenal for £45 million. Chelsea, meanwhile, is interested in Sterling as Thomas Tuchel looks for new forwards. Both have had tremendous success at City, but neither is a lock to start.
Sterling was previously a regular, but Guardiola has been more willing to rotate in recent seasons, and the Englishman has suffered as a result. He's been passed up for several big games and is now contemplating his options. With Erling Haaland's arrival, Jesus has long struggled to establish himself as the No. 9 spot.
City's star-studded squad affords them the luxury of having several players in each position, but Guardiola insists that picking specific individuals is never easy. He stated to Vision de Lideres: "We coaches must inform 11 players that they will not be playing in each game, in addition to deciding who will play. We tell some players they won't be playing, and those players believe you don't like them. That is the most difficult because everything we do in this life is to feel loved.
"They're here with their families, most of them from other countries, to play their sport, and you tell them they can't. That is not repairable. The only option is to redirect through the word,
Tell them that the next game will be played."
Guardiola made similar remarks when he allowed Ferran Torres to leave City in January. The Spaniard had only been in Manchester for 18 months, but Barcelona was interested in him. The Catalan was emphatic that players who desired to pursue other opportunities should be permitted to do so.
He asserted: "If you want to leave because you are unhappy here and believe you will be happier somewhere else, you must leave. The career is brief; it will end one day. There will be no disappointment if he wishes to leave. It's his wish, and I'm happy for him."
City will have to make decisions this summer as players leave, forcing them to look for replacements. Julian Alvarez, an Argentine youngster, is another attacking option who has arrived on Haaland. Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Jack Grealish are pushing for starts on the flanks.
Guardiola, on the other hand, is dead set on keeping hold of Bernardo Silva, whose desire to leave Manchester is well documented. Despite rumors of a move away, the Portuguese star has been a shining light for City.
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