"He’s Got the Talent and the Right Attitude"—Pep Guardiola Reveals His Plan for James McAtee as Man City Star Impresses

Pep Guardiola have revealed that he want young midfielder James McAtee to remain with the club beyond this season. He praised McAtee’s attitude, skills, and his understanding of how the team plays.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s match against Everton Guardiola said he sees a future for McAtee at the club if the player is willing to fight for a place in the team.

“I’d like him to stay,” Guardiola said. “He’s at a good age. He came through our Academy, he knows how we play and he is a really good person. He trains very well and can play in different positions.”

McAtee have not played many minutes this season but Guardiola noticed how much threat he posed during the match against Palace. He believes that McAtee will start scoring more goals once he gets more playing time on the pitch.

“McAtee could have scored four goals against Crystal Palace,” said the City boss. “He’s creative and always near the box, similar to Phil Foden. Players like them have a special sense for scoring, and that’s not something you can easily teach.”

Guardiola also spoke about how the team is starting to create plenty chances again which helps players like McAtee show their talents. He compared the Crystal Palace game to an earlier match this season against Leicester where the team only had a couple of chances.

“In that game we won 2-0 but only had two shots on target. That didn’t feel like the City team from the past eight or nine years,” he explained. “But against Palace, we played well and created a lot of chances, which helps players like McAtee to shine.”

McAtee hard a successful loan spell at Sheffield United last season and is one of the best young players from City’s Academy. Many fans and coaches believe he could become an important player for the club, just like Phil Foden.

Even though Guardiola clearly wants him to stay, he understands that young players want to play more often. The final decision will depend on how the season ends and what McAtee wants for his future.

“I understand that players want more minutes. We’ll see how things go at the end of the season,” Guardiola added.

McAtee’s ability to score and create chances makes him a valuable player for the team. With City still competing in several competitions, the young midfielder will get more chances to prove himself before the season ends.