Pep Guardiola compares Man City's new Foden and De Bruyne partnership with Xavi and Iniesta

Pep Guardiola answered a question with a question when discussing a potential partnership between Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, saying: "Why can't they play together?"

Guardiola had teased a new partnership between Manchester City's talisman and marquee academy graduate on Friday, and fans got a glimpse of that on Sunday against Huddersfield in the FA Cup when De Bruyne made his comeback off the bench to slot in behind Foden, who moved into the false nine position.

It seems that partnership will continue going forward, and Guardiola likened the pair to his iconic Barcelona midfield partnership of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. "Always I am a big fan of the talent, why the talent cannot play together?" asked Guardiola after his side booked a fourth round place with ease.

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"I don't have an argument. When I arrive in Barcelona people say Xavi and Iniesta and Busquets cannot play together, why not? If they are good, intelligent, smart, adjust. Normally we associate the talent that they don't run or don't defend, and this is not true."

However, Guardiola again urged caution over Foden and De Bruyne's chances of playing in the same as dual number 10s, sending a reminder that not every game will allow the pair to be included in the same starting XI.

"In some games (they) can play, in some we have to struggle a bit, we have to think about it," he added. "Because they are players we cannot demand incredible effort, physicality when we have to defend a long, long time deeper. But it is really important to put a lot of talent there