“So reliable” – James Trafford receives strong praise from Pep Guardiola after January exit talk | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for James Trafford as the Blues progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup by beating Salford City on Saturday.

An early own goal from Alfie Dorrington and a late header from January signing Marc Guehi saw the Blues seal a 2-0 win over the League Two visitors at the Etihad Stadium, with City extending their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

Guardiola made a series of changes to his starting XI from Manchester City’s 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham, which preceded a major slip-up from Arsenal in the title race as Brentford’s equaliser at the Gtech Community Stadium saw the Gunners’ lead at the top of the table cut down to four points.

City have won four games on the trot and have found a new lease of life as they embark upon the business end of the season, remaining in the hunt for silverware on four fronts after already setting up a Carabao Cup final date with Arsenal for March 22 at Wembley.

A late comeback win over Liverpool at Anfield last week, a result that sealed a first Premier League double for City over the Reds since 1937, has turned the tide at the Etihad Stadium and it seems as if Guardiola’s new-look dressing room has the motivation to prove their doubters wrong and enjoy a successful finish to the season.

City have a rare midweek off before they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium next weekend, looking to pile further pressure on Arsenal in the month leading to the title rivals’ meeting at Wembley.

Guardiola will be looking to rotate his pack and keep his best players fit and firing amid the season run-in, with Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round win giving Trafford a rare chance to impress as first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was rested.

“He is so reliable. Fantastic keeper,” said Guardiola on Trafford in conversation with BBC Sport after the Manchester City academy graduate put in another assured display in goal on an occasional start.

Trafford returned to Manchester City last summer to challenge for the number one goalkeeping position but has not played a minute of Premier League football since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s £26 million deadline day transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

After starting each of City’s opening three Premier League games – against Wolves, Tottenham and Brighton – in August 2025, Trafford’s minutes has solely come in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, as well as in a 2-0 defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League group-phase.

The Englishman is reaping the rewards of Manchester City still alive in all competitions, with Donnarumma firmly establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at the Etihad Stadium after Ederson’s departure to Fenerbahce last summer.

Trafford gave an honest verdict on his limited game-time since he returned to Manchester City from Burnley for £27 million last year, having also been linked with a departure in January amid interest from Newcastle United.