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Pep Guardiola

LONDON. — Pep Guardiola defended his decision to name only six substitutes for Manchester City’s 1-1 English Premier League draw at Burnley, claiming that he did not have enough players to fill his bench despite boasting the Premier League’s most expensive soccer squad.

The City manager visited Turf Moor without seven injured players on Saturday and has recently complained that referees are not offering his players enough protection.

City also had a late pursuit of Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez rebuffed by the Foxes before Wednesday’s transfer deadline. But Guardiola insisted that an elite development squad fixture on Friday evening was also a key factor behind his decision as he did not want to withdraw any of his youngsters from that game to travel with the first team.“We didn’t have any players,” said Guardiola. “They are injured.

“I’d like to have 18 players and could have called on one of the second team, but they played yesterday. Others were injured. — AFP.