Guardiola throws his support to Trafford after latter’s horror show in Manchester City’s defeat by Spurs at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola justified his decision to start James Trafford over Ederson, claiming that “we missed the simple things” in Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham.
João Palhinha scored Spurs’ second goal at the conclusion of the first half after Ederson, a substitute at the Etihad Stadium, mishandled a Trafford pass. The 22-year-old goalie, who cost £31 million to rejoin City from Burnley this summer, attempted to find Nico González but instead gave the ball to Pape Matar Sarr, who then let it to reach Palhinha.
Ederson is thinking about staying at City. Pep Guardiola was asked if starting Trafford, who featured in last Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Wolves, was influenced by the club’s desire to keep the Brazilian. “He made a good first game and I decided to continue,” the manager stated.
“When I take decisions in the first part of the season – for all the players you play one or two [games] – everyone thinks: ‘OK, this is the starting lineup.’ It was just today I decided that.”
Brennan Johnson had opened the scoring and while City had chances their performance was disjointed. Guardiola said: “We missed the simple things. The effort and running is extraordinary and I have no doubts about that.
“We created chances, we created enough. It happened, it’s football. It’s just the second game. The last game versus Wolves everyone said everything was fine, but I said: ‘It’s just the first game.’ It’s the same now.
“We have to improve. Step by step until we make it click and have good connections. Now, we have seven days of rest and then it is Brighton.”