Sport No rest for City as Guardiola focuses on form

(Reuters) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has no intention of rotating his squad for Tuesday's Champions League trip to Porto and says if players are left out of the line-up it is not because he is giving them a rest.

© Reuters/MICHAEL REGAN Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley

City's squad has been tested by injury and illness early in the new season but they looked to be firing on all cylinders in Saturday's 5-0 Premier League win over Burnley.

Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were both missing from City's Champions League win at Olympiakos last week, with Guardiola saying current form is all that matters to him.

When Guardiola makes fun of Mourinho

Before the clash between Tottenham and Manchester City in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola took a spade against his old rivals José Mourinho. © Panoramic Josep Guardiola Jose Mourinho This Saturday, on Matchday 9 of the English Championship, Tottenham host Manchester City. An enticing meeting which will see two great coaches oppose each other, in this case José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola repeated his praise for Gabriel Jesus but acknowledged his return to form in front of goal represented a boost to Manchester City . Jesus added to that strike in a 5-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion, then scored the decisive goal as City edged past struggling Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he had "no problem" with Sergio Aguero being in Amsterdam as he confirmed the striker The striker has scored seven goals in eight matches for City this season, helping Pep Guardiola 's side reach the top of the They have to focus on the games.

"It is not about rest," Guardiola told reporters.

"Kevin was a little exhausted mentally – that's true – but right now, I see the players who are in a better condition or more focused.

"If players believe I rest players because I am rotating, it's a big mistake."

City have qualified for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition with two games to spare after four straight wins in Group C.

One player who has seized his opportunities is John Stones.

The defender looked to have fallen out of favour following the arrivals of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake but Guardiola was impressed by his performances against Olympiakos and Burnley.

"He was so concentrated and didn't make mistakes," the Spanish coach added. "What we are looking for in the back four is to avoid mistakes and the people up front score goals."

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)