Guardiola explains why he benched Haaland following disastrous showing against Arsenal

Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, surprised many by benching Erling Haaland for their match against Aston Villa, clarifying that it was a strategic decision to rest the star striker amidst a busy schedule. The move came after Haaland's lackluster performance in the previous game against Arsenal.

Guardiola stood by his choice to bench Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, emphasising the necessity of managing the players' minutes for the upcoming fixtures.

He assured that City's strong squad depth allows for such decisions, highlighting the tough schedule ahead.

"Yeah, in two-and-a-half days we have another game at 12:30 (away to Crystal Palace). I think all the teams at the top have a big squad, a good squad, and of course we have it. Today we decided for this line-up for this tough opening and [we will] go for it."

Despite criticism of Haaland's recent form, Guardiola reiterated that the decision was primarily about rotating the squad and preparing for crucial games. With matches against Crystal Palace and Real Madrid looming, City's focus remains on maintaining peak performance levels.