McAtee has that special sense of goals – Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says the only reason James McAtee hasn’t shown the quality on the pitch more often is because the boss hasn’t given him the minutes.

The former Academy player was on target in an impressive performance in City’s 5-2 over Crystal Palace at the weekend.

McAtee is set to be in the squad for our trip to Everton on Saturday at 15:00 (UK) as we chase a top-five finish to secure Champions League football for next season.

Guardiola says the 22-year-old’s threat around the opponents’ box is similar to fellow former youth team ace Phil Foden with both players having a natural instinct for goals.

“We haven’t seen it [from James] this season because I didn’t allow him to play minutes,” the boss said in his pre-match news conference.

“I cannot ask anything from these types of players when they do not play a lot of minutes. They could do better? No.

“In the Spurs game, maybe the first games he played in the Carabao Cup he played really good.

“Macca has this quality, he could’ve scored four goals [against Palace]. He has the ability to create chances, he is there.

“Of course that game we were better than Crystal Palace and you play better and the chances come for themselves. We scored five goals and we had four more clear chances.

“This season, I remember 2-0 against Leicester and we had two shots on target. That was not the team of the past eight or nine years.

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“It’s a team that if the other side scores one or two, we create eight, nine chances. This season, this team scores one or two goals but we didn’t create much.

“Macca lives close to the box, quite similar to Phil and they are there. They have a sense [of goal], it’s difficult to train in the moment the ball is coming and after he didn’t score but it’s fine. As much minutes he plays he will score.”

McAtee’s quality has seen him linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium in the summer with suggestions that top European clubs would like to sign him.

Guardiola wants him to remain at the Club, although he understands that’s players can be frustrated that they don’t get as many minutes as they would like.

“For the age I would like him to stay,” he added.

“I understand, the players want more minutes I understand that.

“I would like him to stay, he’s an Academy player, he knows the patterns, he’s a lovely person, a lovely guy.

“He trains really good, plays in different positions. I like him but with the squad, it’s how we finish and we will see.”