Erling Haaland has been given the final day of the season off, with the striker left out of Manchester City’s squad for Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge. Guardiola, whose exit was confirmed on Friday after 10 years at the Etihad, has made nine changes from Tuesday’s draw at Bournemouth that handed Arsenal the title.
Emotional Farewell at the Etihad
On what is set to be an emotional farewell, the manager has instead offered starts to long-time players Bernardo Silva and John Stones, as well as the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Phil Foden. Antoine Semenyo and captain Silva, who along with Stones will also be departing at the end of the season, are the only survivors from Tuesday night.
Haaland's World Cup Preparation
Haaland and Nico O’Reilly are absent from the squad, with both players set to now travel to the World Cup with Norway and England respectively after long seasons. Haaland is on course to win the Premier League Golden Boot, and is five goals clear of Brentford’s Igor Thiago with 27 this season.
City’s opponents Aston Villa won the Europa League on Wednesday and have also made several changes, with Ollie Watkins, Victor Lindelof and Emi Buendia the only survivors from Istanbul.
Man City XI: Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ake, Nico, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho, Semenyo
Subs: Bettinelli, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Nunes, Alleyne.
