Pep Guardiola warns Manchester City players about off-field behavior after downing Jack Grealish and Phil Foden | football news

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his players against off-field behavior at Christmas after Jack Grealish and Phil Foden were reportedly photographed at a nightclub and then laid off for the match in Newcastle.

The English duo along with John Stones were the only changes in the squad that crushed Leeds 7-0 when they visited City St James’ Park and won 4-0. Foden and Grealish have been replaced in the starting lineup by Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, while Joao Cancelo, who was available again after suspension, is back in Guardiola’s first team in place of Stones.

Stones came off the bench in the 70th minute but Grealish and Foden were unused substitutes.

The Telegraph published a photo of Grealish and Foden allegedly in a nightclub after the match against Leeds and claims that City were unhappy with the couple’s condition when they arrived for their recovery session the next day.

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Despite the 4-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said parts of his team’s performance were weak and noted that the first-half performance in particular was the worst of the season.

Guardiola said on Sunday: “It wasn’t the rotation. I decided to pick this team because they deserve to play today, these guys and not the others.

“At Christmas time, I pay a lot of attention to the behavior on and off the field. And when it’s not appropriate, they won’t play.

“So we have to be focused all the time because of the Christmas time distractions and everything that’s going on – you have to stay focused.”

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Free to watch: Highlights from Manchester City’s victory over Newcastle in the English Premier League

Grealish scored only his third goal for City in Leeds’ win and was impressed with the demolition of the Etihad, but he was not present as City cemented their lead at the Premier League summit on Tyneside amid mounting Covid-19 cases in the Premier League and a series of canceled games.

Guardiola said last month that Grealish should give his best for the rest of the season, but he also praised the way the club’s record £100m signing at Manchester City has settled.

Meanwhile, Foden has also had a great season so far, but he also appeared in the photo posted on social media with a fan.

Guardiola criticized his team’s performance in general despite his four goals against relegation-threatened Eddie Howe,

“It was a good result, but it was not good,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “The first half was one of the poorest we’ve seen this season. We weren’t there. We didn’t play at the rhythm we should have.

“We have an obligation to play in every game as high as possible. I have no reason not to play well every time.”

Sky Sports News has attempted to contact Manchester City for comment.

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