Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to journalists ahead of the Premier League’s eighth-round match against Everton, sharing his thoughts on the squad and former players. The Spaniard reflected on ex-players like Julián Álvarez and Aymeric Laporte, saying he respects their decisions.
“When we won the treble, do you remember who was on the bench? Of course — Aymeric Laporte, Julián Álvarez and others. I would have loved to keep them, but they wanted more playing time. Competition here is fierce, so they decided to leave,” said Guardiola.
Speaking about Álvarez, now at Atlético Madrid, Guardiola added:
“Julián is an exceptional player. That’s why he’s now at one of the best clubs in the world — Atlético Madrid — under a top coach. Maybe I’d still like to have him here at City, but I completely understand his decision.”
The manager emphasized that high competition at Manchester City often pushes players to seek new challenges:
“That’s football — it’s part of the process. Sometimes you need to move forward in your career. We’re proud of them,” he said.
The match between Manchester City and Everton kicks off today, October 18, at 19:00. Guardiola’s team aims to secure three points and climb higher in the league table.
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