Pep Guardiola vows to rest Manchester City stars at Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has said he will rest some of his key Manchester City players against Chelsea on Thursday night, even though losing at Stamford Bridge could hand Liverpool the Premier League title.

                              

Jurgen Klopp's side will be crowned champions if they beat Crystal Palace tonight and City fail to win at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later.

But City's gruelling schedule sees them play an FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday night and it is that game Guardiola is prioritising.

'We can't deny that we have one eye on Newcastle,' he added.

'Chelsea and Liverpool are prestigious but Newcastle is or game. A final. We have one eye.

'It depends on physical condition, the minutes they have played. We take a look a little bit at what is going to happen, not just Chelsea.'

Guardiola will definitely missing Sergio Aguero. The Argentine striker is in Barcelona ready for surgery on a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee and is set for up to seven weeks in sidelines.

Gabriel Jesus is likely to replace Aguero for the time being but Guardiola admitted Ilkay Gundogan could play up front when he decides to rotate his options in the coming weeks.

Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne have also played in that role in the past but Guardiola believes Gundogan can offer a different alternative.

'We don't have any doubts about Gabriel,' Guardiola said. 'The only doubt we have is that not one single play every three days.

'Raheem can play in this position, even Gundogan and Bernardo. Not like a (proper) striker but we can use them.'

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                                                                                                                                 Saif