Why would Pep Guardiola risk the team’s momentum by taking out two of the three players who had looked the best against Nottingham Forest in midweek when they claimed their first win in eight games in all competitions?
Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku both gave reason for optimism, only to find themselves benched a few days later.
Unless there was a reason for it beyond what has been explained, the answer was as sad as it was familiar. Grealish had felt something in training on Friday and Doku – having been in and out of the squad with injuries – had only just returned from his latest issue and couldn’t be risked to start again so soon after Forest.
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