From Hat trick to the bench – Manchester City Coach Pep Guardiola explains the reason why Phil Foden was benched against Crystal Palace and the Bet paid off

Phil Foden, who was scheduled to start on the bench against Crystal Palace, is having a hectic run-in, but Pep Guardiola thinks the midfielder’s minutes are just being controlled.
The Englishman has played a significant role in keeping City’s pursuit of a fourth straight Premier League championship alive.
With 30 games this season, he has 14 goals and 7 assists, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa in midweek.
The team is currently three points behind leaders Liverpool and one point behind second-place Arsenal.
The early kickoff on Saturday at Selhurst Park gives City the chance to get ahead of both of their opponents and put the pressure on them before their individual games, but Foden can only have a difference from the bench.
Before kickoff, Guardiola spoke with TNT Sports and said, “It was difficult [to leave him out], but not only him, all the men as a manager when you don’t allow people to play.” “I constantly make tough decisions.
We have a lot of games, though, so it’s a lot. “Take a look at Phil’s 96-minute performance against Arsenal and his immobility during friendly matches with the national team.
Because there are so many games, that is why we made that decision.” Oliver Glasner’s team will be facing Kevin de Bruyne in place of Foden, who received a comparable amount of rest in midweek.
Rio Ferdinand probed further, wanting to know if Guardiola intended to start the Belgian and his academy product in the same starting lineup in the future.
“I considered letting them play, but we have to travel to Madrid tomorrow. There will be more at a later point after we get back to Manchester early,” the City manager explained. “I’m not foolish;
I would love to see Phil on the field, but there are a lot of games and players, so that’s why I make that decision.” In addition, Erling Haaland, John Stones, and Oscar Bobb have returned to the starting lineup for City in lieu of Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva, and Manuel Akanji for the match against Palace.