Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City star after social media criticism from fanbase | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has launched to the defence of Brazilian forward Savinho, who drew criticism for his performances from certain sections of the club’s fanbase last season.

Savinho, 21, joined forces with Guardiola after arriving from CFG-owned Girona last summer, adding to Manchester City’s prospects on the wing as the Blues eyed a fifth straight Premier League title following a successful 2023-24 league campaign.

After making a blistering start to life at the Etihad Stadium, the Brazilian drew comparisons to former Manchester City and Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez owing to his trickery, dribbiling ability and movement with the ball – starring in a 2-0 debut win away at Chelsea in August 2024.

However, as is often the case with new signings under Guardiola, Savinho struggled to maintain consistency in his performances whilst lacking a significant contribution in terms of goals and assists – a powerful metric to assess forwards in modern-day football.

Manchester City added Omar Marmoush to their attack in January – with Savinho inspiring when on the ball and entertaining when called upon but often criticised for his decision-making in the final third and inability to find the net.

As with Jeremy Doku, the young attacker was in and out of Guardiola’s starting XI for much of the second half of the recent season and as Manchester City prepare for their FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 tie with Al-Hilal, Guardiola has provided an honest assessment of Savinho’s debut season at the Etihad Stadium.

“An incredible, incredible season in Girona – the best player by far and brought that team, alongside his mates, to the Champions League,” Guardiola said on Savinho.

“Last season, he (Savinho) started really well, after played a little bit less for my reasons, not because he was playing bad.”

Savinho has caught the eye amongst a wide array of Manchester City stars in the United States, scoring the best goal in a 5-2 drubbing of Juventus last week with a thumping effort with his weaker foot from the edge of the opposition box.

Guardiola added: “But he (Savinho) is a player with incredible potential. We cannot forget he’s so young! He needs to make the final third aspects more decisive, like the goal he has done in the last game (vs Juventus) – he has to do it more!

“And the last goal was more difficult to score than the previous one-against-ones with the keeper that maybe last season he missed.

“The moment he (Savinho) makes this step, and naturally it will come because he has incredible individual quality, he will become an extraordinary player!

“He (Savinho) can play on both sides, right and left, he’s so fast, he understands tactically the movements he has to do. That’s why he can play with us! I am really pleased!”