Pep Guardiola has disclosed that his starting XI against Newcastle United at the weekend was picked on ‘behavior but not on rotation.
Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and John Stones all dropped to the bench for Sunday’s 4-0 win at St James’ Park, with Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus, and Raheem Sterling replacing them in the starting line-up.
It alleged Jack Grealish and Phil Foden attended a night club which triggered their drop out from the squad.
When asked to explain fly his line-up, Guardiola told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Not rotation, no.
I decided on this team because they deserved to play today, these guys and not the other ones.
“At Christmas time I pay a lot of attention to behavior on and off the pitch. And when off the pitch is not proper they are not going to play.
“So we have to be focused all the time because of distractions at Christmas time and everything that happens – you have to still be focused.”
The Citizens host Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in their next match on Boxing Day, hoping to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League table.