Pep Talk: “I don’t expect the guys who are not selected are happy,”

Pep Guardiola is ready for the UCL v Gladbach. He spoke ahead of the match and gave injury updates, selection issues, the match and much more.

Let’s dive in-

“I want Nathan to be involved as soon as possible,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“He flies with us and as soon as he can be involved, I want to do it.

“He [Sterling] travels with the team for tomorrow, of course. All the squad travel to Budapest.”

“I don’t expect the guys who are not selected are happy,” he added. “It is normal.

“It has happened since football was created. Raheem in this case has been so important and is so important.

“All the players respect my decisions. I never found in my career one player who was happy when they don’t play, but they react and behave really well.

“Sometimes during the season, for example when we travelled to Stamford Bridge, we had 14 first team players and then it is easy to make the selection and everybody is happy.

“When you have 20 top class players who have had incredible success, it will always be unfair on them. That is the point.

“I now have 20 players, I trust them, I love them, they are the main reason why we are in the position where we are in the Premier League and Champions League and Carabao Cup and FA Cup.”

“We have to play the game like we did against Fulham and Southampton, not like against United,” said Pep.

“Play and win the game. Focus on winning the game - this is our target.

“I know the quality they have. It starts with Sommer and finishes with Thuram. Like all teams they have had bad moments.

“It is a final. They have nothing to lose. I am sure they will try to overcome the situation.

“I have incredible respect for Gladbach and Marco [Rose]. They have weapons and they know how to use it. I want to see the team try to win the game.”

Pep is right about selection, the players will just have to respect his final decisions. With the schedule as tight and compacted as it is, it should not bother them too much. The UCL and winning another domestic treble is of high importance. This team can be really special.