Pep Guardiola quizzed on Nico Gonzalez after recent Manchester City selection snubs | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been quizzed on January signing Nico Gonzalez, particularly off the back of snubbing the Spaniard in starting line-ups.

The 23-year-old became Manchester City’s fourth and final signing of the recent January transfer window, bringing an end to a market-long search for a new central midfielder at a time when Pep Guardiola’s side were continuing to struggle in the position.

Rodri’s season-long absence owing to recovery from an ACL injury meant that Manchester City have been forced to seek alternatives in the middle of the park, but with little in the way of success. And Nico Gonzalez’s arrival was seen by many to be the answer to those issues.

Having started life brightly, and putting in a hugely commendable performance against Newcastle in which Pep Guardiola labelled the midfielder after the game as a “mini-Rodri”, consistent places at the base of midfield have reduced over recent contests.

Most significantly, Gonzalez was snubbed by Pep Guardiola for the club’s visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League – a game in which Manchester City visibly lacked energy and control in midfield, grinding out a 0-0 draw against Ruben Amorim’s side.

Speaking during a recent press conference, and in light of a few selections without ‘Nico’ named in the starting line-up, Pep Guardiola was asked for his thoughts on the whole regarding the Spaniard’s start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

“The impact from the new ones has been really good, even Vitor Reis for example, who didn’t play much, in training I’m impressed. It’s not easy when they come into an environment that the way we’re playing, results are not good,” he began.

“Omar (Marmoush), we cannot deny the impact he has in terms of goals. And Nico has played good, and I’m pretty sure when Rodri will come back just for imitating in the training sessions, he will learn a lot. He’s another guy who can understand many things.

“And he will get it because he listens, he’s so attentive, incredibly focussed in his world – football, football, football. And that is, it’s really important. The times he played, Brighton for example, two goals (conceded), it was a transition. They regained the ball and we could score.”

Guardiola continued, “He has done many, many good things. With the ball he’s another player who has to move less – I don’t like holding midfielders moving a lot, you have to be more small and calm in the position.

“But I’m pretty sure he will get it, he’s come for many years. And physicality and he wants to learn, he learns quick. So it’s going to happen.”

When further pressed on whether the latter comments were the reason why Nico had missed Manchester City’s recent away contests in the Premier League, Guardiola explained, “No, I decided for the players for experience and maybe know better all the patterns.

“And after it didn’t happen, at (Manchester) United. I don’t have it in the mind. OK, ‘I want experienced players knowing exactly what you have to do, and the position, sometimes taking as much responsibility, some players’ – that’s all.

“But it’s not against him because Jeremy (Doku) had played awesome for many games recently, and didn’t play against United. So it’s not about being against any players particularly.”

Manchester City welcomed Nico back into their starting line-up against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, emerging as 5-2 winners and with another showpiece performance from the Spanish midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether the trend of leaving Gonzalez out of Premier League away matches continues this weekend however, as Manchester City make their final ever visit to Goodison Park for a clash with David Moyes’ Everton.