City defeated Bournemouth 6-1 this weekend, with Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Jack Grealish – impressive in the 3-0 derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford - sitting the Cherries game out.
In came Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Jeremy Doku with all three scoring in the latest Premier League victory, and the explosive Belgian winger wowing the Etihad crowd with his pace and grace in the final third.
Guardiola is relishing the fight to be included on his team sheet and thinks it’s the best way to maintain high standards within the group.
“Ruben [Dias] is so important, Josko [Gvardiol] didn’t play today. And maybe Josko and Ruben are going to play the next game and they have to be there,” the boss told the press in his post-match media briefing.
“Everyone is incredibly involved. And they compete with each other.
“I want Jack [Grealish] angry. I want him to play good. And [Jeremy] Doku to be angry like he didn’t play the last two games.
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“This is the way to maintain the consistent level.
“But Jack is back, the way he played in Old Trafford to give us more composure in that position. It was decisive for us.
“But we need everyone. A lot of games come. Everyone has to compete.
“If you don’t play, train better the next day, the moment is coming, when you do this and mentally here, you perform well and when you perform well, we are going to win games and you will be happy, everyone will be happy and this is what you have to do.”
There was certainly an upbeat buzz on the full-time whistle on Saturday after the classy, comprehensive victory.
The 6-1 triumph was secured without strike pair Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez finding the net.
Haaland had to come off injured at half-time while Alvarez was replaced by Matheus Nunes late on.
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Guardiola admitted that it was good to see the goals spread across the team but stressed that Haaland and Alvarez played their part in the win just by their very presence on the pitch.
“We scored the goals because of the contribution of Erling and Julian,” the manager added.
“I have the feeling when they are playing that something is going to happen in the box.
“But of course it’s important [to see goals coming from other sources].
“I want Erling on the pitch. I want to be clear. Erling would have played the second half if he hadn’t been injured.
“But it’s good that Jeremy has this threat to score goals, Bernardo again, Phil we know it.
“Having more players involved to have the pleasure to score, it’s so important, with or without Erling.”
