Pep Guardiola responds to suggestions Manchester City should have signed Julian Alvarez replacement

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has discussed the club’s decision not to directly replace Julian Alvarez in their squad during the summer transfer window.

The Argentine striker brought an end to an illustrious two-year stay at the Etihad Stadium by eyeing fresh opportunities elsewhere in the European game alongside his representatives, without necessarily forcing the issue with Manchester City.

While eyeing the opportunity to lead the line for one of the continent’s premier clubs, having largely acted as back-up support for Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez agreed that a switch to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid would be the best possible solution to his aspirations.

That left Manchester City and Atletico Madrid working towards an agreement, and it was shaken upon a €95 million package with an initial €75 million being paid to the Premier League champions up-front.

But while the move of Alvarez to La Liga left Manchester City light in the striking role, Txiki Begiristain and his colleagues within the club opted against moving for one of a number of solutions to replacing the Argentina international during the weeks that remained.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether he has any regrets over the club’s decision to not directly replace Alvarez during the last summer transfer window, particularly given the ongoing injury situation at the Etihad Stadium.

“No, you don’t expect to have eight, nine, seven, or six, or seven, or eight injuries, or problems at the same time,” Guardiola said. “When you have these injuries, always the squad is short. When everyone is fit and available, it happens.”

The Manchester City manager continued, “When we won four times in a row the Carabao Cup, like how serious always we have been, always it’s because in the first stage, second stage, third stage until I would say the semi-finals, always we play the guys that don’t play in the last games in the Premier League in that specific moment.

“Always they play, and if we go through and through and arrive in the semi-finals, OK, go for it! But when we don’t have players, listen there are many wars to fight, and in a season you have to choose which ones.

“And of course, against Spurs with Erling (Haaland) we are stronger, but we have a lot of problems right now and I am focussed on other things, so sometimes it is what it is. And the players behaved – I know the people judge on results, but I’m more than pleased for the way we played, for example in the last games, especially in the last game.”

Manchester City have just two matches remaining before the final international break of 2024, as Manchester United’s incoming head coach Ruben Amorim presents the next challenge as the Premier League champions visit Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The final game before national team duties recommence will come in the English top-flight, with a significant challenge once again on the south coast and Pep Guardiola’s players facing Brighton & Hove Albion at The Amex.