Pep Guardiola accepts responsibility for Cole Palmer leaving Man City for Chelsea

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said it was his "responsibility" that Cole Palmer left the club for Chelsea last summer.

Palmer had made 41 senior appearances for City in three years and, having turned 21 last May, he made the decision to move on search of more regular playing time.

City banked a sizeable £42.5m fee for a player with minimal first-team experience and Palmer has flourished in a new environment at Chelsea, racking up 21 total goals and assists in 28 Games and also playing his way into the senior England squad as a result.

"After two or three seasons he wanted more minutes than the last season. I understand completely," Guardiola explained ahead of Palmer preparing to face his old club on Saturday evening.

"If Palmer had the minutes I gave to Phil [Foden] from the beginning, Cole Palmer would be here - but I didn't give them to him. That is my responsibility. Why? Because of Bernardo [Silva], Riyad [Mahrez], Phil. In that moment, I chose the other ones."

The City boss went on to explain that a young player moving on in such circumstances isn’t out of the ordinary: "For young players, we always want them to stay but this is normal.

"After one season it is nice, and the second season, but the third season it is, 'Oh guys, I want to play, I don't want to sit on the bench'. It's normal. We understand as a club. We got an offer from an incredible top club like Chelsea and I'm really happy for him. In all clubs these types of things happen."

Palmer himself admitted he struggled with the decision to leave City but the allure of more regular minutes was too good to turn down.

"When I made the decision to come down here with my family it was a really tough decision to leave," Palmer told Chelsea media.

"But I felt like I was ready to play week in, week out and showcase my ability. So thank you to the club and everyone who has supported me.

"It's down to the manager [Mauricio Pochettino] giving me the freedom, the club giving me the opportunity and the lads, who have been great with me since I came in. I've settled fast so I'm enjoying it here."

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP