James McAtee has “big respect” and “should have had more minutes” this season says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City hold “big respect” for James McAtee within the club and its first-team dressing room, Pep Guardiola has discussed this week.

The England youth international has seen his opportunities to impress severely restricted so far this season, despite Pep Guardiola working hard to ensure that Txiki Begiristain and his colleagues did not let the midfielder leave the club on loan or permanently last summer.

Despite those restricted minutes across competitions, McAtee has managed to score his first UEFA Champions League goal for the club earlier in the campaign, and overall his stock remains extremely high within the game.

A rare chance to shine was granted at a crucial period of Manchester City’s last outing, with McAtee sent on by Pep Guardiola in place of Phil Foden with the score narrowly at 0-1 against Leicester, and the versatile playmaker did not disappoint from the wide-right role.

Skipping past his man on the touchline with a deft touch and sprint, McAtee calmly played the ball into midfield before it was played on to Savinho, who lofted the ball into the penalty area for Erling Haaland to head home and secure all three points.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s first match of the new calendar year, Pep Guardiola has openly issued further praise upon James McAtee, who had an immediate impact when called upon against Leicester City last time out.

“He made us believe that maybe he should’ve had more minutes but he’s young, and a lot of games still to play, but of course he played really good,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday afternoon.

He continued, “And the most important is all of his (Manchester City) teammates were so happy, because he has big respect for how he behaves in the locker room.”

Another name subject to further high praise from his manager is Savinho, who managed to record his first goal for Manchester City against Leicester since joining the club from ESTAC Troyes during the last summer transfer window.

Guardiola said of the Brazil international and his first goal for the club, “I think it is going to help. He’s had chances, but he could not score and I’m pretty sure that he will give us a good moment.

“He’s so young, it’s his first season in England, I think he’s played really good when he’s played. But he’s so young and many things to improve.”

It remains to be seen whether either player will be deployed in Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up this weekend, however a clear opportunity for a start is right around the corner for McAtee with the return of the FA Cup.

The third round of the competition is scheduled to take place for Manchester City on Saturday 11 January, as League Two side Salford City visit the Etihad Stadium for a blockbuster clash in England’s most-loved cup tournament.