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Rob DawsonCorresponding
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said that anyone who leaks news of the team before the games is “unethical and unprofessional”.
Aston Villa began an investigation following news that midfielder Jack Grealish suffered an injury during training before the clash with Leicester City.
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Villa also asked his players to stop playing fantasy football after some team members removed Grealish from their teams before the defeat by Leicester – seen as an indicator that the English international was about to be left out.
Guardiola keeps his selections close to his chest, but the city chief said he would not see anyone caught leaking information.
“I know that players play these games, but I don’t know what fantasy football is,” said Guardiola. “I never played and heard it for the first time in the headlines [on Monday]. I do not know what it is.
“Sometimes there is a selection and the players are friends with players from other teams and talk. Sometimes it happens. It is unethical and unprofessional, but it can happen.”
Guardiola spoke while preparing his team for the Champions League round of 16 tie with Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday. He had already won the competition twice while at the helm of Barcelona, but never made it past the quarterfinals in four years at City.
“Every time we left, we were at a high level and very close,” said Guardiola. “We have to play well and the will is there.
“After that, we will see the second leg and then the quarter-finals, if we are good enough. There are no more expectations than that.”
A remarkable streak of victories in 18 games took City to the top of the Premier League table and increased the possibility of a quadruple if they win the title, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Champions League this season.
It would be an unprecedented feat in English football, but midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said the opportunity to make history is not in the players’ minds.
“It’s nothing I thought about until you mentioned it and nothing I’m thinking about,” he said. “If it is going to happen, I will accept it.”