- Foden has been dropped ahead of Manchester City’s match against Real Madrid on Tuesday
- It came just days after the forward scored a stunning hat-trick against Aston Villa
- Jurgen Klopp has the eye of the tiger! He hasn’t seemed so confident since 2019. Listen to the It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Phil Foden has been left on the bench for Manchester’s visit to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
The 23-year-old has had a season to remember, scoring an excellent hat-trick in midweek as City beat Aston Villa 4-1.
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland have returned to the side, while there is a rare start for Oscar Bobb against the Eagles, with Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku making way.
Guardiola explained: ‘It was difficult (to leave Foden on the bench). It’s always difficult, but we have a lot of competitions. Phil played against Arsenal, 96 minutes and friendlies for the national team, and he couldn’t move.
‘There are a lot of matches and that is why we chose that. If we win, a good decision. If we lose, why did you do that?’
‘Yes (Foden and KDB can play together). After tomorrow we travel to Madrid. We need fresh sometimes.
‘I would love to have Phil on the field. I’m not stupid! I like him. A lot of games, a lot of players, that’s why I decide for that (to leave him out).”
Fantasy Premier League players were left unhappy with Guardiola after many of them were captained by Foden.
One wrote on No other manager in the world does that, except Pep.”
Another said: ‘I was Foden’s captain, Pep is a nasty man, like what’s wrong with that man, ah’.
‘Classic pep. Destroying FPL teams worldwide. Foden on the bench,” said a third FPL player.