Pep Guardiola explains why Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne didn’t play against Aston Villa in the Premier League

There were some eyebrow-raising team selections in the Premier League on Wednesday night, not least when both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were left out of Manchester City’s team to play Aston Villa.

Saka and Martínez among high-profile Premier League absentees on Wednesday

Title rivals Arsenal had already opted not to risk key man Bukayo Saka against Luton Town in an earlier Game, while opponents Villa were forced to withdraw goalkeeper Emilio Martínez minutes before kick-off at the Etihad after he had originally been named in the starting line-up.

With Pep Guardiola’s side starting matchday 31 in third place in the table, three points behind leaders Liverpool, they knew they couldn’t avoid a slip-up having failed to beat the top two in recent weeks. Which made it all the more surprising Haaland and De Bruyne were left on the bench.

The Norwegian striker was criticised for his display against Arsenal in the British media by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, who said he played “almost like a League Two (English fourth division) player”.

Why didn’t Haaland and De Bruyne start for Manchester City against Aston Villa?

Before facing Villa, however, Guardiola revealed to UK broadcaster TNT Sports that his decision to drop Haaland - and De Bruyne - to the bench had nothing to do with their performance levels and everything to do with managing their Game time ahead of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid.

“In two-and-a-half days we have another Game at 12:30pm (UK time, 6:30am ET). I think all the teams at the top have a big squad, a good squad, and of course we have it. Today we decided for this line-up for this tough opening and we will go for it.”

The former Barcelona coach has already voiced his displeasure with his team’s fixture schedule, especially compared to upcoming opponents Madrid. While Carlo Ancelotti’s team have nine days off before the first leg in the Spanish capital, City faced Arsenal on Sunday, Villa on Wednesday and will play Crystal Palace on Saturday before taking on Los Blancos at the Bernabéu next Tuesday.