Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that Fabian Delph performance against Chelsea has proved that he should have been given more game time.
Fabian Delph played the full game as City fell to a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in midweek, the first time that he has completed 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. Although he has struggled with injuries at times this season, he has still found game time hard to come by when fit.
Guardiola praised the 27-year-old’s attitude and suggested that Delph could now get further opportunities to impress.
As reported by Manchester City’s Website, Guardiola said: “Congratulations to Fabian Delph. He showed me how wrong I was not to put him on the field. He never complains.
“Vincent Kompany is so aggressive and it’s not easy to come back from injury. I’m so happy for him.
“The Premier League is gone now, it will be between Tottenham and Chelsea. So now we want the Champions League places.
“It’s an honour to have the amazing players I have. We come here to Stamford Bridge and play the way we have, with huge personality. I’m a lucky guy to manage these guys.
“It’s encouraging for the future. I’m optimistic. It’s been like this all season but in the boxes we are not good enough. We created enough to score goals. It’s our problem. But my players play in one way and that’s why I want to be here – to help Man City for years.
“The people who are watching us must be proud of our fans. We did everything.”
Although he isn’t a spectacular player, Delph is hugely effective at retaining possession, as demonstrated by the fact that he has been successful with 92% of his attempted passes in the Premier League this season.
Competition for places in the City team is fierce, especially in central midfield, but Delph will hope that his display against Chelsea will earn him a starting berth in tomorrow’s game at home to Hull.
Guardiola’s team are currently in fourth place in the Premier League, 14 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
