Pep Guardiola says there was ‘no particular reason’ to recall Phil Foden for Man City vs Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has insisted there was no real reason behind his decision to bring Phil Foden back into Man City’s starting line-up for the first time in six games against Chelsea.

England duo Kyle Walker and Foden have been recalled for tonight’s clash at Stamford Bridge, leaving Jack Grealish on the bench.

Foden had started just one of City’s last seven Premier League games and his absence from Guardiola’s starting line-up drew attention as the England star was uninjured.

Phil Foden has been called up in Manchester City’s starting XI to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Pep Guardiola insisted there was no specific reason for the team he named on Thursday

When asked about the changes he made for the crucial clash with Chelsea, Guardiola said there was no clear reason why he named the starting XI and instead wanted to include everyone.

“Before every game you ask me why, sometimes there’s no particular reason,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “I want to rotate the team, get everyone involved.

“Sometimes I pay attention to the opponent, sometimes to the tactics or the quality of the players we have, I don’t care about the tactics today.

Foden has started Man City’s last six games on the bench and his absence has raised eyebrows

“There is no particular reason why I choose. Since I arrived I’m not a guy who plays against 11 players every time. Because you can’t handle the dressing room.

“When the players aren’t playing, they have to feel like they can play at a certain level. It’s not nice.’

Guardiola also claimed that “everyone” wanted to see the team he named before admitting it’s not normal to be eight points behind the leaders at this stage of the season.

“Everyone wanted this line-up – I follow our fans,” Guardiola added. “We won’t find out what it means.

Jack Grealish fell on the bench in place of Foden despite his good form

‘kyle [Walker] and Joao [Cancelo] came back from the World Cup with complaints and wasn’t done with. Rico [Lewis] and the other guys were fantastic.

“We’d rather have an eight-point lead, that’s the reality. But I feel when you’ve won four Premier Leagues in the last five years it’s not normal to be eight points clear in this competition and all the top teams we have.

“We’re trying to be close and there are still a lot of games to play. We’ll try to maintain our level of play and get on a good winning streak.”

Foden played 60 minutes before being replaced by Grealish, who set up Riyad Mahrez with a brilliant pass to seal a 1-0 win over Chelsea and move within five points of leaders Arsenal.