Pep's tinkering strikes again! Guardiola DROPS Phil Foden to the bench for Man City's clash at Crystal Palace just days after the England star scored superb hat-trick

Phil Foden has been dropped to the bench for Manchester's visit to Crystal Palace in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off. 

The 23-year-old has had a season to remember and scored a superb hat-trick in midweek as City thrashed Aston Villa 4-1. 

Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland have returned to the side while there is a rare start for Oscar Bobb against the Eagles, with Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku making way. 

Guardiola explained: 'It was difficult [to leave Foden on the bench]. It’s always tough but we have a lot of games. Phil played against Arsenal, 96 minutes, and friendly games for the national team, and he couldn’t move. 

'It’s a lot of games and that’s why we decided on that. If we win, great decision, if we lose, why did you do that?’ 

‘Yeah [can play Foden and KDB together]. After tomorrow, we travel to Madrid. We need sometimes fresh. 

'I would love to have Phil on the pitch. I’m not stupid! I like him. A lot of games, a lot of players, that’s why I decide for that [to leave him out].'

Fantasy Premier League players were left unhappy with Guardiola after many of them captained Foden. 

One wrote on X: Foden puts in an absolute gem of a performance & scores a hat trick midweek & now finds himself benched the following game. No other manager on the planet does that bar Pep.'

Another said: 'I captained Foden, Pep be one of annoying guy, like what is wrong with that man ah'.

'Classic pep. Destroying FPL teams worldwide. Foden on the bench,' said a third FPL player.