Josep Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, was seen issuing instructions to Cole Palmer during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at the London Stadium. Palmer has been having a remarkable breakout season with the Blues, and his recent hat-trick against Everton brought his Premier League goal tally to 20, putting him on par with his former teammate Erling Haaland. Guardiola reflected on Palmer’s progress, acknowledging that he may not have given the player the minutes he deserved in the past. He noted that Palmer is shy but possesses significant potential and praised his fantastic performance.
Guardiola also revealed that Palmer had expressed a desire to leave the club for two seasons, but Guardiola had urged him to stay as Riyad Mahrez had departed, only for Palmer to insist on leaving. Regarding the team’s upcoming games, Guardiola mentioned doubts over Haaland’s availability for the next match, explaining that the player felt a muscular issue after coming off against Real Madrid. However, he expressed optimism about Kevin de Bruyne’s return, stating that de Bruyne feels well. Guardiola acknowledged that Haaland’s physical condition would be assessed following a tough game against Real Madrid, which saw high intensity and a significant amount of action.