"Not watching", "It’s going to be a tough battle" - Manchester City fans surprised at Pep Guiardiola's lineup for UEFA Super Cup clash with Sevilla
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has announced his starting XI for the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens on Wednesday, August 16, drawing a few eyebrows.
The reigning European treble winners are playing the Super Cup for the first time, having won their maiden UEFA Champions League last season. Meanwhile, reigning UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla are playing their fifth, winning the competition in 2005.
Guardiola's lineup for the game includes Ederson as goalkeeper; Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake in defence. Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Jack Grealish found their place in midfield, while Erling Haaland is the lone forward.
One fan is bemused by the absence of Julian Alvarez, tweeting:
Another reckons:
Here are some of the top Twitter reactions:
Defender Aymeric Laporte, who's reportedly on the cusp of joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, was expectedly not named in the starting XI.
Manchester City are coming off a truly historic 2022-23 campaign, becoming only the second English team (Manchester United, 1998-99) to win the continental treble.
Midfielder Rodri, though, is not prepared to ease off ahead of the Super Cup clash with record Europa League winners Sevilla. Highlighting City's hunger to win more titles, the Spaniard said (as quoted by the BBC):
Manchester City opened their 2023-24 season with a defeat on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield. However, they launched their quest for an unprecedented Premier League four-peat with a 3-0 win at Burnley at the weekend.
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