One of the most peculiar aspects of Manchester City’s logic-defying season has been Pep Guardiola’s use of James McAtee.. Guardiola persuaded McAtee to stay with City in the summer rather than seek another loan move, and the academy graduate accepted he would have to settle for less playing time. Before his surprise introduction at Leicester, though, he had played just two minutes of Premier League football.. For all of City’s injury problems, their stretched squad and overworked players, Guardiola was persistently overlooking someone raised in his style and surely useful from the bench more often than he has been called upon. Guardiola has put faith in his senior players to get themselves out of the run they got themselves into, so it was a surprise that McAtee was introduced just after the hour mark at Leicester.. Was it a coincidence that this week have seen reports that there is interest from across Europe in McAtee’s services in January? Probably. But this did mark a change in tactic with the homegrown forward.. And he repaid the belated faith as he knocked the ball past his man to get out of a tight spot on the touchline just eight minutes after coming on. That allowed him to set up Kevin De Bruyne, who spread the ball to Savinho to cross for Erling Haaland to head in the second.. There were the inevitable shouts of ‘Haaland, Haaland’ from the noisy away end but as play restarted it was McAtee’s name being sung loudly from that corner. Fans have been desperate for him to be given a chance, and on this showing they may get to see more of him.. It has taken a while, but McAtee’s season should finally get going after this cameo – although Guardiola made clear to him late in the game that his decision to shoot (narrowly over) was the wrong one. It took the manager a few attempts to get McAtee’s attention, but he insisted on making his point to keep the ball moving rather than risk a speculative effort.. Guardiola did, however, offer McAtee a huge embrace at full-time as the supporters sang his name once again. A pat on the back and a reminder of work still to do.
