Pep Guardiola issues caution over James Trafford’s starting place for Manchester City against Tottenham | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a word of caution over whether James Trafford will retain his place as the club’s starting goalkeeper this weekend.

The 22-year-old was handed his Premier League debut for City last week in the 0-4 win over Wolves, stepping into the spotlight at Molineux after Ederson’s long-term future with the club came under renewed uncertainty and the long-standing number one succumbed to illness.

Trafford, who rose through the City academy before spells out on loan and a permanent exit to Burnley, has been viewed internally as a potential long-term successor, but Pep Guardiola was quick to temper excitement ahead of Saturday’s test against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium.

This fixture represents a significant step up in opposition, with Spurs under Thomas Frank looking to develop a reputation for aggressive attacking football, developed by the former Brentford manager at his previous club.

Pep Guardiola, who has already been outspoken in recent weeks on squad sizes and the challenges of rotation, is now faced with another major decision between the posts, and one that could shape not only James Trafford’s immediate trajectory, but also the direction of City’s goalkeeper strategy heading into the final weeks of the transfer window.

The conversation around the goalkeeping position comes at a delicate time for the club. Ederson has been subject to heavy interest from Galatasaray, while City’s pursuit of PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma has been reported extensively. Against that backdrop, James Trafford’s emergence offers Guardiola both a solution and a dilemma.

Speaking to reporters during his pre-match press conference, Guardiola was quizzed for his thoughts on James Trafford, and whether the 22-year-old could retain his place as Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper against Tottenham this weekend.

“We’ll decide tomorrow, or tonight after dinner,” Guardiola cautioned.

“And yeah, happy [with his performance vs Wolves]. You know, the new players always bring – it’s like me when I first arrived in the first year – new energy, new everything. And I changed four, five or six times the staff, close staff, and always to bring new energy and new ideas,” he continued.

“Players are the same! And James brought his youth, and a desire to play in the club where he was born and was grown, and happy for the performance [at Molineux]. But as I’ve said many times, it’s just the first game.

“Just be consistent in the way we played, and improve like we have done, and what we have to do better against Spurs than Wolves.”

Pep Guardiola’s measured stance suggests that Trafford may not yet be guaranteed the No.1 jersey on a permanent basis, with rotation likely to play a key role in the early weeks of the campaign.

Much could depend on the outcome of Manchester City’s ongoing goalkeeper situation in the market, particularly if serious negotiations develop between Etihad Stadium officials and Galatasaray for Ederson in the coming days.

Should Trafford be selected again against Spurs, it would mark a major vote of confidence from Pep Guardiola and further indicate a pathway for academy graduates to establish themselves in City’s first-team plans.

But with the UEFA Champions League and domestic cup competitions still to come in the coming weeks, the manager will also be conscious of the need to manage his options carefully across multiple competitions.

Ultimately, the next few games may prove decisive for James Trafford’s standing at the club. If Guardiola continues to back him in high-profile fixtures, he could rapidly cement himself as a genuine long-term successor to Ederson despite conversations around Donnarumma.