Pep Guardiola is making young goalkeeper Aro Muric sweat ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
The 20-year-old has played every game in the competition this season, conceding just one goal in his five professional outings for Manchester City.
Muric was the City hero in December’s quarter-final penalty shootout win at Leicester but Guardiola claimed he has not yet decided whether to start him or first-choice Ederson at Wembley.
‘We will see - I have to think about it,’ Guardiola said. ‘He’s been an important player for us to be where we are. Leicester with the penalties, he was incredible.
‘We trust him, that’s why he is second keeper today. We didn’t look to buy anybody in the winter market.’
Guardiola also claimed he would have preferred not to beat Maurizio Sarri’s side so convincingly at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago.
The City boss thought elements of Chelsea’s performance were ‘incredible’, despite a 6-0 walloping, and reckons the result will spur them on.
‘I don’t like to play a team again in a short period of time after you’ve beaten them,’ Guardiola added.
‘They are proud people. They will do extra. When we lost 2-0 in Stamford Bridge we couldn’t (then) accept defeat at home.
‘When we won the game they did incredible things but the first goal was a mistake and then a mistake from Ross Barkley. Sergio (Aguero) scored an incredible goal. ‘
‘When that happens it's tough for them. They did many good things, I've spoken to my staff and they had the same opinion. They played good but we were so clinical with our goals and that helps.’
mancsupporter
68
Dont play him in the final, can he handle the pressure?, dont think so, maybe muric could do good, only one way to find out, but if i was muric i would rather let ederson play and hope They WIN the trophy rather than playing in the final, if he can handle it, ITS fine, but if he loose, (not saying it is HIS fault) but he might feel that way, and it is not only him and the other players who lose it but the whole club. I have faith in muric, i think ederson is a good teacher for him and i wish him all the best of luck in the match and HIS future. Its Chelsea, placing the money on what? Double number for city? 10-0? (Just
SD533
29
I need to see Muric play but not on the final, just play Ederson. It will be too much pressure on him and surely that will be the first final he plays and again not against Chelsea because they're seeking for revenge.