“I won’t replace him, no matter his performance; he’ll always be in the starting lineup for Manchester City unless he’s injured,” Pep Guardiola stated, emphasizing an untouchable player whom he will never substitute, even after dismissing a player who was already prepared to enter the game against Liverpool.

Doku and Foden’s presence on the wings signifies a shift for City, who secured the treble last season by aiming for control through wide areas. The team is now playing with fewer restrictions early in the season.

“Last season, I primarily operated on the right side with Jack on the left,” Bernardo explained, highlighting a more controlled and less direct approach back then. “This approach led to more one-on-one situations and counter-attacks, but it also meant losing some control in the game, which wasn’t always beneficial.” However, despite the change, the overall team performance is positive.

“The team’s composition changes when players are in different roles,” Bernardo added. “We’re performing well, and hopefully, this trend continues. We also expect Jack to return soon.”

“With injured players back, I could play on the right again—there are plenty of options depending on the game and the manager’s tactics.”

Last season, Guardiola steered the team to a commanding position during the latter part of the season while contending with Arsenal in the Premier League and navigating the challenging run in the Champions League.

This season’s title race appears close, with Arsenal currently leading, followed by City and Liverpool. Bernardo foresees a renewed challenge from Liverpool, which has previously pushed City close in title races. However, he hopes to establish a lead this season instead of having to chase late in the campaign.

“We expected Liverpool to bounce back after a tough season,” Bernardo remarked. “We anticipated their resurgence, making it challenging— not only against them but also against Arsenal and Tottenham. Nonetheless, we’re prepared for the challenge.”

“Winning is enjoyable, but a closely contested league is good for the Premier League and the fans,” Bernardo continued. “Having four teams in close contention makes it an exciting competition.”

“We’re determined to narrow the gap—we didn’t enjoy being so far behind Arsenal last season. We aim to be at the top to compete for the Premier League when February and March arrive.”