Pep Guardiola insists 'everyone is fresh' as he made eight changes to his Manchester City team to face Manchester United in the Premier League derby on Saturday.
Guardiola made a number of changes from City's awful 2-0 defeat at Southampton just three days ago, although his selection that night suggested some legs were being saved for today's derby clash at Manchester United.
In came the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez, but perhaps a more surprising inclusion was the fact that Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden kept their places despite poor games at Southampton. And Guardiola explained in his pre-match interview that he selected his side for fitness reasons as much as anything else.
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Speaking to BT Sport, Guardiola said: "Everyone is fresh, in this part of the season everyone is playing minutes and training. We cannot just think this season how many minutes people have played. Over the past 10 years players have played many minutes.
"During the season there are good and bad moments. We will never forget who we are, we have to do the best performance we can, we will do it again."
Not only must City improve from their off-night at Southampton, but they must also stop an in-form United side on a run of eight straight wins.
"In this season they have huge moments and a new manager has to settle. They've been incredible," Guardiola said.
"We cannot forget who we are and where we are. We are a little bit away from the best team in the Premier League, in Arsenal, but we are second in the table and we are there. There are 60 or 63 points left to get in the season."
In a separate pre-match interview with BT Sport, Guardiola added on United: "The patterns are better, a good run of results. You see is an active team, not just reactive. Transitions, always United have been a transition team, they are able to press high, do the good patterns, good build-ups.
"It doesn't matter Lisandro, Luke Shaw, Varane. They have incredible assist players, good runners. A complete team. Since I arrive here in England, I'd say we were a bit better than them. But when I saw the squad I feel they are good. I cannot think the period with Jose [Mourinho] when I arrive or the other ones, the players are not good. Sometimes you need time, or something, I have the feeling United are back.
"Always I feel favourites. They say we are favourites to win Champions League or Premier League. You have to prove it. I have a massive respect for United. Hopefully they have massive respect for us after what we have done the last decade. We won on the pitch the credit and hopefully we can do it today."
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