Pep Guardiola provides Man City line-up hint ahead of Chelsea and Southampton cup ties

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted at a possible change to his line-up in the upcoming cup clashes against Chelsea and Southampton.

City host Chelsea in the third meeting between the two sides on Sunday afternoon, as Graham Potter’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup – just days after falling to defeat against the Premier League champions in the top-flight.

Manchester City will then remain in cup action, as they make the long journey to the south coast on Wednesday night, as Southampton are the opponents awaiting in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

One name that will be eager to get significant competitive minutes under his belt is defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The summer signing from Leeds United was recently revealed by Pep Guardiola to have returned to Manchester City “overweight”, after being granted time off in between the FIFA World Cup in Qatar with England, and the return of club football prior to Christmas.

Speaking on the condition of Kalvin Phillips after returning to Manchester City’s matchday squad in recent games, Pep Guardiola has been keen to reiterate that the England international has returned to his expected fitness levels.

“I had the feeling last week that he’s back. I have a good feeling,” said Guardiola.

“He wants to change the mind, (with) the way he is going to play. It will maybe be a good lesson for him for the future. I have the feeling that a football player has to be, for 12 months, perfect. Even in holidays you have to be perfect.”

Guardiola continued, “You can enjoy, you can do whatever you want, but you have to be ready because this level is so demanding. You have to play every three days, you have to be fit – and when you’re not fit, nothing. But in the last week, or days, he improved his level.”

The Manchester City boss then offered early insights into his team selections for the upcoming cup clashes against Chelsea and Southampton in the next few days, as he confirmed Kalvin Phillips’ place for the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Pep Guardiola said, “For sure, in the Carabao Cup (against Southampton on Wednesday night), he is going to play and Sunday (against Chelsea) we will see.”