Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he expects Egyptian international Omar Marmoush to play a key role in the decisive final phase of the season. With four matches remaining in just 12 days—including the FA Cup final—Manchester City are aiming for a domestic treble.
Marmoush has been forced to wait for opportunities this season, starting only seven Premier League games. However, he proved his quality by scoring off the bench in the 3-0 win over Brentford last Saturday.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of rotating the squad to maintain physical readiness. “We have talked several times. I know it’s not easy for them, but I am absolutely sure they will play in the upcoming matches,” he told ESPN. “I want to rotate because otherwise we won’t be fit enough for the cup final or the match against Bournemouth.”
The Spanish coach specifically addressed Marmoush’s situation: “Especially Omar, it’s not easy because you usually want only one striker. He is a real striker, but we have Erling Haaland in the team. Haaland is very important for us, but Marmoush’s contribution, considering the number of goals compared to the minutes he has played, is very high.”
Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season across club and country this past weekend. Guardiola commented: “It’s incredible. There was a period in November when he was very tired after returning from international duty with Norway. It was a very difficult time.”
