Pep Guardiola defends James Trafford after costly error against Tottenham Hotspur

LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted his decision to start young goalkeeper James Trafford on Aug 23 was down to his performance last week, shrugging off suggestions about the potential departure of regular starter Ederson.

The 22-year-old Trafford gifted Joao Palhinha a goal with his shocking attempt to play the ball out from the back as Spurs eased to a 2-0 English Premier League victory over Guardiola’s side at Etihad Stadium. Brennan Johnson scored Spurs’ opener.

“He made a good first game, James,” Guardiola told reporters. “When I make a decision in the first part of the season, the first move, just for the ’keeper. ’Keeper is a special position, of course, to have more consistency in the goal. 

“But for all the players, when you play one or two games and everybody think, okay, this is the start line now, this is the player who is going to play. And I learnt for many years that this amount of games, everybody will play.”

Ederson has been linked with a move to Turkey’s Galatasaray and British media have reported that City are interested in Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

It was not just the goalkeeping that cost City against Spurs, however.

Guardiola’s team, who have lost eight of their last 15 games against Tottenham, were undone on the counter-attack and their backline was shambolic.

“The simple things, we miss the simple things with the ball. We lost with the quality we have, individually the simple things with the ball,” Guardiola said.

“They score the second at the end of the first half, so it was difficult. We had chances, but we didn’t react well with the marking and the pressing. We knew it.”

Guardiola paid tribute to the way Spurs were set up by new manager Thomas Frank.

“Because Thomas does it and it happens,” he said. “We have to attract and play in different way to the way we play. The final third is really good. We control the transitions. The result is not good. We will learn from that.”

With the transfer window closing on Sept 1, Guardiola kept his cards close to his chest about new signings.

“We will see,” he said. “We have one week with the club. We talk with the players, agents. We will see.”

Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery called for calm after his side lost 1-0 to Brentford on Aug 23 and remained still without a goal to their credit two games into the new Premier League season.

Villa, who were sixth last term, drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle United last weekend and were little closer to a breakthrough at the Brentford Community Stadium despite having more possession.

Dango Ouattara scored in the 12th minute and from then on, Villa were unable to get back on level terms.

“Now my message is to keep calm and move on and work in the same way we were doing, and try to be as well strong in our mentality,” Emery told reporters.

“We have some circumstances now. We are trying to work on it, but of course we need to finish the transfer window in this week.

“We are building a team, trying to get strong, trying to use our players and help them get in the best position or feel comfortable in our structure.

“But, of course, there’s still work to do and I still think we have to try to clarify this week.” REUTERS