Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has disclosed that the reason he occasionally overlooks high-performing players is to deliberately provoke them into a state of “angry” so that they will respond on the field when they rejoin the squad.

Jeremy Doku contributed to the demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday with four assists and a goal of his own. Doku entered the game having appeared for only three minutes as a substitute in the Manchester derby the previous week. After excelling during his time at Old Trafford, Jack Grealish was subsequently designated as an unutilized substitute.

“Both Jack’s anger and his performance are what I desire. Then, Doku should be enraged that he has been absent from the last two games. Guardiola stated, “This is how we can maintain consistency at that level.”

“As much as Jeremy and Jack perform, and I can play both at the same time, but when they don’t [play], train better the next day because the moment is coming, and when you are mentally there in the head you will perform well,” according to him.

“It was decisive for us how [Grealish] performed at Old Trafford, as it provided us with greater composure and strength in that position. Each individual is essential to us. There are numerous games in which all participants are required to compete. We will then win events, which will bring happiness to you and everyone else.”

Tuesday night marks City’s immediate return to Champions League action with a visit from Swiss side Young Boys to the Etihad Stadium. The defending European champions have qualified for the knockout stages for the eleventh consecutive season with two games remaining if they secure another victory this week. They have taken the lead in all three of their group matches thus far.