Pep Guardiola: 'Claudio Bravo still a top goalkeeper'

Claudio Bravo in action during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on January 2, 2017
© SilverHub
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists that he still regards Claudio Bravo as one of the best goalkeepers in the world despite dropping him from the team recently.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that he still regards Claudio Bravo as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, despite dropping the Chilean from his starting XI in recent weeks.

Bravo replaced Joe Hart as City's number one in the summer, but a string of questionable performances saw him lose his place in the side to Wilfredo Caballero for the past two Premier League games.

Caballero is expected to retain his place for Monday's match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, although Guardiola insists that he is yet to make a final decision on who will get the gloves.

"My opinion of Claudio remains the same. He's a top player, a top goalkeeper. He's one of the best in the world. His long career speaks for itself," he told reporters.

"Football, of course, here is more particular, more crosses, more special things, but, of course, he is a top, top goalkeeper. For me, there's no doubt about that. The decision I take is based on what I see, why one player is not here and another is. That's why I am here.

"I don't know [who will start against Bournemouth]. I will decide the day of the game."

Bravo has conceded with the last six shots on target that he has faced in a Man City shirt.

Claudio Bravo in action during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on January 2, 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea25193352183460
2Manchester CityMan City25164551292252
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs25148346182850
4Arsenal25155554282650
5Liverpool25147454302449
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd25139338211748
7Everton25118640271341
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2510783431337
9Stoke CityStoke258893036-632
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2595113443-932
11Southampton2586112831-330
12Burnley2593132736-930
13Watford2586112942-1330
14Bournemouth2575133549-1426
15Swansea CitySwansea2573153154-2324
16Middlesbrough25410111927-822
17Leicester CityLeicester2556142443-1921
18Hull City2555152249-2720
19Crystal Palace2554163246-1419
20Sunderland2554162446-2219