Pep Guardiola has confirmed that goalkeeper James Trafford will start for Manchester City in their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford and will not be leaving the club on loan during the January transfer window.
Learning from Leverkusen: The Need for a 'Father Figure'
Guardiola indicated he will make significant alterations to his starting line-up for Wednesday's match at the Etihad Stadium. However, he stressed he has learned a crucial lesson from last month's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, where he made ten changes. The manager said the problem in that match was "not having a father figure on the pitch."
He explained that while he will field players who did not feature in Sunday's 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, alongside some academy prospects, he will ensure at least one senior player is included to provide leadership and composure. "I have to find that balance," Guardiola stated, acknowledging the error.
Trafford's Role and Squad Updates
James Trafford, the £27m summer signing from Burnley, will be given the nod in goal. The 21-year-old has made six appearances for City so far, with his last outing coming in the Leverkusen loss. Guardiola was emphatic about the keeper's immediate future, saying, "Absolutely. He's an incredible keeper... He will be with us this season."
The City boss admitted that Saturday's Premier League fixture against West Ham is the "really important game," hence the rotation for the cup tie. He confirmed that John Stones, Rodri, and the injured Jérémy Doku will be unavailable. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are also absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
While Guardiola wants to progress in the Carabao Cup, he clarified that success in the competition historically comes when the entire squad is fit and rotations are seamless. "I am not saying it's not the priority to reach the semi-final," he said, "but when we have done it before it is because we have all the squad, no injuries."
The match against Thomas Frank's Brentford presents a chance for City's fringe and youth players to stake a claim, but Guardiola's tactical adjustment to include an experienced head shows a refined approach to squad management in cup competitions.
