Manchester City ended their troubling winless streak on Sunday with a 2-0 victory against Leicester City, thanks to goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland. The game also saw a standout cameo from academy graduate James McAtee, whose performance injected much-needed energy into the team.
The 22-year-old, making only his third Premier League appearance this season, played a pivotal role in creating City’s second goal. His effort has earned praise from both manager Pep Guardiola and teammate Kevin De Bruyne, with Guardiola admitting he had been “unfair” in limiting McAtee’s opportunities so far.
McAtee’s performance arrives amid interest from Bayer Leverkusen, who are monitoring his situation ahead of the January transfer window.
QUOTES:
De Bruyne commended McAtee’s impact, saying:
“Obviously, he’s not played that much, but the Leicester game was important—for a young player to come in and give us a bit of energy. It gives Pep more confidence to play him, which can only be a good thing. He’s calm and has really good quality.”
Guardiola also acknowledged the youngster’s contribution and his own role in the limited minutes McAtee has received, stating:
“I know it’s unfair because we asked him to stay, but I didn’t give him the minutes he deserved. I always had the feeling he could play with us. The best place to show what you can do is on the pitch, and Macca has proven it.”
RECALL:
City’s win was only their second in the last 14 matches across all competitions, highlighting the struggles that have plagued their season. De Bruyne attributed the slump to fatigue and injuries, noting that many players have been overworked.
“For some of the players, it’s been really hard. The first four weeks were all right, but then we hit a rhythm where we were struggling, and players had to shoulder the burden because there was no one else available,” he said.
“Hopefully, after the New Year, players will return, and we can find our rhythm as a team. That will help us going forward.”
De Bruyne also reflected on Guardiola’s demeanor during the rough patch, observing:
“Pep was a bit more down than usual, but he didn’t change much. You can’t change after having a bad moment. We’ve had so many good moments, and we know how to win games. At the moment, we haven’t won as much, but it happens, and we’re working to improve.”
KEEP IN MIND:
McAtee’s rise provides Guardiola with a fresh option as City battle to regain their footing. With injuries and fatigue continuing to challenge the squad, the young midfielder could play a crucial role in Manchester City’s resurgence in the second half of the season.
