Pep Guardiola has announced that James Trafford will be the starting goalkeeper for the Carabao Cup final this Sunday, but he also hinted that the goalkeeper might leave Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
In a February interview, Trafford expressed surprise at finding himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the lineup after returning to the club from Burnley last summer.
During a press conference, Guardiola refrained from commenting on Trafford’s remarks but confirmed that the 23-year-old will be in the lineup at Wembley.
“Players may feel happy or unhappy; it is what it is,” Guardiola stated.
“Their role is to be here and perform to the best of their abilities. We’ll see what transpires at the end of the season. The key is for them to stay prepared.”
Following their encounter at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final, City will also clash with Arsenal in the Premier League at the Etihad in April.
This match could influence the outcome of the Premier League title, but Guardiola expressed uncertainty about whether a victory on Sunday would aid City in their title pursuit.
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“I don’t know,” said the City manager.
“As I mentioned before, winning is beneficial simply because winning is good for morale.
“We could win on Sunday and still not perform well in the league. I’ve learned that in various competitions and with tight recovery times, it’s essential to have the mindset to forget and move forward.”