Pep Guardiola said Tuesday’s Champions League draw away at Porto had helped get more valuable minutes under the belt for a host of key players and so maintained City’s rhythm.

City made seven changes from the side that had beaten Burnley 5-0 last weekend with the likes of Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Eric Garcia and Oleksandr Zinchnenko all starting.

And after an impressive display at the Estadio do Dragao which confirmed top spot in Group C, Guardiola expressed his satisfaction.

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“I didn’t make any substitutions as I think a few players needed rhythm, like Bernardo, like Oleks, Eric, Fernandinho. Joao was playing well. I wanted to give them minutes for the rhythm,” the City boss revealed.

“They showed against Burnley that everyone is fit and everyone is ready. I have to know that I can trust the players.

“It is a competition for the players. Now it is time to focus on Premier League.”

Play the video to watch Pep’s press conference…