Toure and Nasri have Manchester City future, says Guardiola

“Of course they have always played wide but they did more than good”. We have 28 players so there are a lot that have to convince me on the pitch, it’s the only way.

Willy Caballero, 34, was instead handed a first start since April as Guardiola believes the 34-year-old Argentine offers better qualities in terms of ball distribution than a goalkeeper who has played nearly 300 times since being named City’s number 1 by Sven-Goran Erikkson in 2010. “But today I decide for that, for many reasons”.

“We made a really good build-up process with John, Kola (Aleksandar Kolarov) and Fernandinho, and then Gael (Clichy) and Bacary Sagna”.

“Hart can play – other players in the squad can play”.

City needed to respond and it was substitute Jesus Navas who forced the victor with a run and cross that McNair, making his debut after moving from Manchester United earlier in the week, turned in. “I can’t be critical though because the players did a great job”. “When we don’t play good I will be the first to say we played bad but I think we deserved our victory”.

The future of all four players has been the subject of recent speculation, with 33-year-old Toure heavily linked with a move to Inter for much of the transfer window, while Nasri was criticised for his fitness upon returning to pre-season training.

But he had a hard time on England duty at Euro 2016 and City have been linked with other goalkeepers since the arrival of Guardiola in the summer.

“When we got back to one each it was disappointing, we gave away a bad goal”. Willy had this quality first of all, he trained more times.

But, with champions Leicester City losing to Hull City and Tottenham being held by Everton, Guardiola was happy enough to take an unconvincing win.

The hosts saw out the victory in the closing stages to ensure a winning start to their campaign despite a performance which was at times toothless, while Sunderland remain winless on the opening day of a Premier League season since 2009.

“It was disappointing that we backed off Jesus Navas and allowed the ball to be played across the six-yard box”.

“I want us to give the crowd something to shout about, and I’m hoping to do that, but more importantly I need to build on what happened a year ago under Sam [Allardyce]”.

Support from a manager like that is the type of thing the England man needs, especially given the stick he receives on social media and from opposition fans, and we may have seen the consequences of that support on Saturday.