Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has praised the abilities of Brentford forward Ivan Toney ahead of their upcoming clash on Monday. Toney, who scored twice in Brentford’s victory at the Etihad Stadium last season, recently made a return to action after serving an eight-month ban for breaching betting regulations.
The 27-year-old striker has found the net in both appearances since completing his suspension, and Guardiola expressed satisfaction at seeing such talent back on the field. Guardiola described Toney as an exceptional player, highlighting his skills in various aspects such as long balls, ball retention, set-pieces, and penalties. The City manager welcomed exceptional players like Toney back to the Premier League and expressed hope that the challenging period in Toney’s life and for his family is now forgotten.
Brentford secured victories against the reigning champions home and away in the previous Premier League season, with Toney playing a crucial role in the first of those wins just before the World Cup break. Despite City’s indifferent spell during that period, Guardiola acknowledges the threat posed by Brentford and their consistent standards.
Guardiola emphasized the difficulty City has faced against Brentford in the past and recognized the challenge posed by their playing style and high standards. Despite City winning some of these encounters, Guardiola acknowledged the tight nature of the matches and the two losses suffered against Brentford last season. He considers the upcoming match as a new challenge for his team.
City enters the match with a full-strength squad, including the return of defender Manuel Akanji after a knee injury. Erling Haaland, who returned from a foot problem as a substitute against Burnley, could potentially make his first start in two months.