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Debate

Did Pep Guardiola make the right call by subbing Savinho for Foden against Chelsea?

Wow, what a kickoff to Premier League matchday 1! The game between Manchester City and Chelsea definitely added fuel to this fire of excitement. Erling Haaland picked up right where he left off last season with his goal in this opening match, but Pep Guardiola‘s squad is still grappling with one major issue from last year—injuries. And guess what? Their new signing Savinho seems to be the latest casualty.

Savinho had a pretty stellar debut against Chelsea and played a huge part in Haaland’s goal that helped the Sky Blues snag the win. But just before halftime, he took a hit on his right leg that raised some concerns. It looked like he might’ve tweaked a muscle during a counterattack and even went down for a bit. The medics even had to give him some treatment on the sidelines before getting him back out there.

However, it seemed like he’d shake it off and keep playing since he started the second half. Unfortunately, that joy was short-lived; barely a minute in, he got subbed out for Phil Foden. Now it looks like that knock turned into something more serious because Savinho has hurt his right knee. We haven’t gotten any word yet on how bad it is or why Pep Guardiola let him play after getting injured in the first place.

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via Reuters

Savinho was even seen using an ice pack on his leg after being taken out. Savinho is the only signing City made this summer, coming in for around $43.5 million. And even though it was just his first game, you could see why Pep Guardiola would want him around moving forward. Especially since they’re already dealing with Rodri’s injury blow.

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Rodri got hurt during Spain’s big UEFA Euro final win against England and is still recovering. Pep Guardiola isn’t sure when he’ll be back yet either “We’ll have to start him training and see how he feels when he starts to move his body,” the 53-year-old stated earlier. But honestly? Despite these hiccups, the team showed no signs of weakness against Chelsea!

Pep Guardiola’s magic stuns Stamford Bridge

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The defending champs lined up against Chelsea and boy, was it a special game for Erling Haaland! Playing his 100th match for Manchester City, he kicked things off by scoring with a sweet assist from Bernardo Silva. There was a bit of tension when VAR started looking at the play because Silva might have been offside, but thankfully, that goal stood.

What’s your perspective on:

Did Pep Guardiola make the right call by subbing Savinho for Foden against Chelsea?

Have an interesting take?

That single goal was all Man City needed to wrap up the win since Chelsea just couldn’t crack Pep Guardiola’s solid defense. After the match, Haaland raised some eyebrows when he mentioned that he’s not feeling 100% yet. The striker stated, “I’m not in the perfect shape, but yeah it’s good to start and to win…” Let’s hope this doesn’t lead to another injury scare for City fans!