‘It can be annoying’ – Pundit criticises Pep Guardiola’s Man City policy

The transfer window is shut and Bernardo Silva remained at Manchester City. The 28-year-old was keen on joining Barcelona over the summer, but there was no acceptable offer lodged.

Pep Guardiola always said he’d never stand in the way of a player wanting to leave, but Alan Hutton believes he had no intention of granting Silva a departure due to how much he admires him.

He pondered whether Guardiola’s penchant to rotate the squad led to the Portuguese international considering his future but believes Silva will be happy at the Etihad if he’s a regular this season.

Hutton told Football Insider: “Pep Guardiola talks so highly of him. He seems to love him to bits. We know Pep likes to change his squad from game to game. As a footballer it can be annoying at times, at the biggest clubs you just have to respect the manager’s decision and know he’s going to rotate.

“But you want a run of games, you want to play at a level and to do that you need to play week in week out. So, you can understand some of these big players’ frustrations at getting dropped here and there but I think if he gets the game time that he’s looking for, then I think he’ll be happy.”

Raheem Sterling left City to join Chelsea and said he grew frustrated at the squad rotation. Gabriel Jesus left to join Arsenal for the same reason, having struggled for starts despite being the only natural striker in the first-team.

But Silva only wanted to join Barca, so his reasons weren’t down to Guardiola’s selection policy. He did say he’d happily stay at City if the move fell through and his performances have been solid this campaign.

The 28-year-old was dropped for City’s first two Premier League games but has started their last four, so he should be happy with Guardiola’s treatment.

In other news, Joao Cancelo impressed after returning to his natural position v Sevilla 

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