Hello and welcome to our coverage of Pep Guardiola's press conference ahead of the Premier League clash with Leeds United on Saturday. Manchester City will be aiming to return to winning ways having lost at Newcastle in their last top-flight fixture before suffering a disappointing Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
Guardiola made 10 changes for the European tie and the gamble backfired spectacularly with City well beaten. They have now dropped out of the top eight places in the League Phase table ahead of a trip to Real Madrid next month.
Domestically, City will be strong favourites to beat newly-promoted Leeds on home soil and a victory is imperative if the Blues want to keep the pressure up on leaders Arsenal, who are seven points clear of Guardiola's side. But the Gunners face second place Chelsea this weekend and that could create an opportunity for City to close the gap if they can see off an out of form Leeds side.
Guardiola will give a team news update with Mateo Kovacic a long-term absentee, while the City boss will likely offer an update on Rodri with the midfielder not expected to be rushed back to fitness after a stop-start campaign. The boss is due to speak at 12.30pm and we will bring you all the updates right here along with the latest City news.
The overwhelming feeling for Manchester City late on Tuesday night was one of a missed opportunity. A chance to get the defeat to Newcastle out of the system had gone, as had putting one foot firmly into the last-16 of the Champions League. As for the players, most of whom had waited patiently for a chance to impress, they were eyeing up a Carabao Cup quarter-final after fluffing their lines.
Pep Guardiola's decision to make 10 changes
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