Pep Guardiola claims that Julian Alvarez has seized the opportunity to start regularly for Man City as a result of injuries to other players.
According to Guardiola, the recently acquired playmaker is now among the first names on the Man City teamsheet this year. Alvarez has had a strong start to the season and he increased his goal total with a brace in Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade.
The Argentine has also scored twice in the Premier League, including the game-winning goal against Newcastle, and has appeared in all five games. Alvarez’s growing significance to the team was demonstrated by the fact that he didn’t start five straight league games until May of last year.
Though he was brought in as a striker, Alvarez is excelling as an attacking midfielder this season due to the injuries to Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. As a result, he has had the chance to claim the position as his own. Guardiola is pleased with his present form, but he acknowledges that someday he will have to leave the starting lineup in order to prevent burnout.
Pep Guardiola is very pleased with the Man City forward’s current form
When questioned about Alvarez’s game time this season, Guardiola responded by saying
“Always have good behaviour, playing, not playing, being a world champion or not. Always the same. The perfect dose of disappointment when he doesn’t play but always ready for the opportunity. Last season we had Ilkay [Gundogan] and Kevin [De Bruyne]. Right now with the injuries he’s had minutes and he gives us a lot of good things.”
He continued saying
“That’s why he’s playing but he has to continue. Many games, some games he won’t play, hopefully, players come back and fight for positions.”
Man City has won each of its five league games so far this season. If they defeat Nottingham Forest on Saturday and add three more points, their start to this campaign would surpass that of last season. Given that the last campaign finished with the treble, it is encouraging, but Guardiola isn’t dwelling too much on it.
Pep Guardiola also said
“When we arrived seven years ago we did six in six but we finished third, it’s just the beginning. It’s important to get points but it’s just the beginning.”
Man City boss Guardiola concluded by saying
“All the squads were so easy to handle, all of them. The success belongs to the players of the past because we learn off them, we build off them. I’m not going to say this team is better, every team, the club, players, staff, everyone has been really good.”
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