Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained why he is currently opting for Jack Grealish ahead of Phil Foden in his line-up selections for the Premier League champions.

The Catalan coach and his players dropped yet more points in the race for the top-flight title in their final match of 2022, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by league strugglers Everton on the weekend.

Erling Haaland’s first-half opener was cancelled out by a sublime strike from the Toffees’ Demarai Gray, who then joined his Merseyside teammates in shutting the defensive door to hold on for a crucial point in their bid to avoid relegation.

However, Pep Guardiola was criticised by many supporters on social media after the game for his team selections, with the decision to retain Jack Grealish in his starting eleven and for a prolonged period of the match ahead of Phil Foden – who was named among the substitutes bench for the third successive game after the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking following the 1-1 draw with Everton at the Etihad Stadium on New Year’s Eve, the Manchester City boss revealed that despite Foden being able to operate in “one thousand positions,” Jack Grealish offers something more.

“Phil can play in one thousand positions,” Guardiola opened. “I see something on the pitch, in the training sessions, and I use my intuition to use Jack in these games because he gives us extra passes.”

He continued, “Phil is better when more vertical. Both can play together and combine. The way we played against Leeds, knowing their defence was completely different, was really good.

“The way we’ve played in the last three games is one of the best since I’ve been here.”

Manchester City return to Premier League action on Thursday night, as they travel to the capital to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

With Arsenal currently seven points ahead of Pep Guardiola and his Premier League champions, Manchester City will be well aware that anything but a win against Graham Potter’s side could have huge implications given the strength of Arsenal at present.

SOURCE: cityxtra.co.uk