Manchester City

Nolito "very happy" at Manchester City despite lack of playing time

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 07 December 2016

Nolito insists that he is "very happy" at Manchester City, despite struggling to hold down a regular starting spot under Pep Guardiola.

Nolito has insisted that he has no problem with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rotating the squad, despite limiting his game time.

The 30-year-old has made 16 appearances in all competitions, 11 of which have come in the Premier League but he has only started seven of them.

Guardiola selected Nolito for the full 90 minutes of City's Champions League dead rubber against Celtic, which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

While Nolito has admitted that he wants to play more regularly, he respects the manager's decisions.

"After more than a week without playing, I'm very happy to have started," the Spaniard told reporters. "Although there wasn't anything at stake in this game, it was still a Champions League game and everyone likes to play in this competition.

"Sincerely, I'm very happy. Coming to a team like this I knew how difficult it would be to play in such a competitive team, with very good players. The manager is rotating, sometimes he plays one player, another time he'll play another, and honestly, right now, I'm very happy, honestly.

"From a selfish standpoint, of course I would like to play in every game but in the end, all the Premier League and Champions League matches are demanding, very physical, and the coach is doing well to rotate the squad. The manager is the one who decides and I'll be ready for him when he needs me."

Nolito has scored three league goals and one in Europe so far this season.