Guardiola explains Man City absences in FA Cup final defeat

Pep Guardiola admits it was very difficult to leave James McAtee and Rico Lewis out of his FA Cup final squad in the defeat to Crystal Palace.

Lewis and McAtee have been regulars in Guardiola’s squads of late but were surprise absentees at Wembley, with the likes of Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri instead preferred on the bench.

And Guardiola said he felt he owed other players a chance to be in the squad instead.

“It was just one reason,” the City boss explained.

“I said before three or four times, it is so difficult for, I think, all the managers now. We bought a few players in the winter time, and now all the players are recovered, and we have 24 players, and the last four or five (games), all the time three players were out, all the time.

“And I wanted to change a little bit, because I don’t have anything against, of course, Rico, Maca, because I appreciate them. Nathan (Ake) has come back for the first week of training, and then I try to be fair with the guys, not just to disappointment them.”

City must quickly shake off their FA Cup final defeat, with two Premier League games left for Guardiola’s side to try and secure Champions League football for next sason.

They currently sit sixth in the Premier League, which would only be enough for Europa League qualification, and face Bournemouth at the Etihad on Tuesday.

“Of course it’s better to play against Bournemouth (after) winning the FA Cup,” Guardiola said. “Wins help winning.

“But now we have to prove how strong we are, in our people.

“Of course it’s important, massive. But now is not the time to, I would say, to talk to the players. So tomorrow (Sunday) we have recovery and after pre-game, and we will see how we prepare.”