Guardiola plays down De Bruyne reaction after being substituted in midweek
Manchester City vs Leicester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 15th April 2023
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Darren England Assistants: E Smart, N Greenhalgh Fourth Official: J Simpson VAR: J Gillett
Odds: City 1/7, Draw 7/1, Leicester 16/1
Tickets: Sold out
TV: BT Sport
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Laporte, Akanji, Lewis, Gomez, Phillips, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Palmer, Perrone, Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez
Injured: Foden
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWWW
Leicester City
Manager: Dean Smith
Squad (from): Ward, Smithies, Iversen, Faes, Soyuncu, Evans, Souttar, Kristiansen, Amartey, Vestergaard, Castagne, Thomas, Tielemans, Maddison, Mendy, Ndidi, Praet, Brunt, Soumare, Vardy, Iheanacho, Daka, Tete
Injured: Justin, Pereira, Barnes, Bertrand
Doubtful: Tielemans
Suspended: Dewsbury-Hall
Form guide: LLLDL
Phil Foden is missing once again as he recovers from surgery on his appendix, but manager Pep Guardiola has no fresh injury worries ahead of the visit of Leicester.
The Blues were in scintillating form as they defeated Bayern Munich 3-0 in midweek, although Kevin De Bruyne appeared disgruntled after being substituted early in the second half.
“I understand completely,” Guardiola said in Friday's press conference. “But at the same time I understand [Riyad] Mahrez didn’t play, Aymeric [Laporte] didn’t play, Sergio [Gomez] didn’t play and Kalvin [Phillips] didn’t play.
“When I make a selection, always I think about the players who didn’t play. Everyone wants to play and everyone wants to do their best.
“I understand completely they want to be in there to help the team.
“Can you imagine the last seven years without Kevin De Bruyne? It’s impossible. You see the games against Liverpool, Burnley, Southampton.
“But every game is different and I saw in that moment, I felt the need for change with Julian [Alvarez] and the other ones. That’s why I’m here.
“The players might believe it's personal, but in that moment I try to do the best to win the game. If it works, it's how good I am, if it doesn't it’s how bad I am.”
City won their last home game against Leicester 6-3, with Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte and Raheem Sterling (2) netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 56 of the 110 games played against the Foxes, with 24 draws and 30 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish, Mahrez, Alvarez, Haaland
Score prediction: City 4 Leicester 0