Manchester City's "Second Team" Shows Class

NEWCASTLE, SATURDAY — Manager Pep Guardiola's decision to rotate the Manchester City squad in the fifth round of the FA Cup proved to be very effective. While City's substitute players took to the field in good condition and with a sense of hunger, the Newcastle squad brought the domino effect of fatigue from their previous match. This stark contrast was clearly evident on the field.

The "second squad" of City successfully dispelled doubts at St. James Park Stadium, Newcastle, on Sunday (8/3/2026) early morning WIB. After initially falling behind due to a quick goal from the home team scored by Harvey Barnes, City managed to turn the situation around and won 3-1. Goals from Savinho and Omar Marmoush (2) marked the revival of the visiting team.

Guardiola completely rotated his squad. He retained only one player, wing-back Matheus Nunes, from the last match against Nottingham Forest. The rest were replaced in order to prepare for the away match in the Round of 16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid later this week. Substitute players, such as Savinho and Jeremy Doku, took over starting positions.

"An outstanding performance. We started poorly and conceded, but we showed mentality and passion on the field. We are happy to advance to the next round. I am also pleased to contribute another goal," said Marmoush, who scored the second and third goals for "The Citizens."

Newcastle managed to surprise City with a fast-paced, intense attack in the first 20 minutes. The home team capitalized on the momentum from their victory with ten players against Manchester United earlier in the week. After several opportunities, Barnes opened the scoring with a quick strike from a transition play.

Half an hour passed, and Newcastle's intensity suddenly decreased. City took advantage of this with a series of relentless attacks from the flanks. Guardiola's team utilized the speed and agility of Doku and Savinho from both sides. They aimed to outmaneuver their opponents on the wings, then deliver low crosses to the far post.

That method proved effective. The two early goals for City came from a similar scheme. Savinho executed a cross from Doku for the first goal. In the second goal, Savinho combined with Nunes on the right side. Then, Nunes sent a pass to the far post. Marmoush capitalized on the scramble in front of Newcastle's goal.

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe stated that the defeat was caused by two factors. "We could not maintain the energy as we did in the first half hour, and they played very well. We have to accept that. I feel that we ran out of steam not only in the second half but also since the end of the first half," he said.

Newcastle just had a fierce battle early Thursday morning. They triumphed over MU after playing with ten men since the first half. The problem is, Howe did not make many rotations in the FA Cup. Only a few key players were benched, including forward Anthony Gordon and midfielder Joelinton.

The city is experiencing a contrasting situation. Their players are in good condition. Savinho, for instance, only played eight minutes in the last match against Forest. Veteran defender John Stone has only just returned after last appearing in the subsequent round against Salford City in mid-February.

Interestingly, the "second squad" of City was able to demonstrate above-standard quality. Savinho and his teammates have often been benched lately due to their failure to make a significant impact. The dominance of the visiting team can be seen from the statistics. They produced 21 shots, with seven of them resulting in clear chances.

According to Guardiola, that performance was even better than in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinal in mid-January, when City fielded their best squad. "This is our best performance at this stadium in the decade I have been with City. There is consistency, which is why I am proud," said the manager.

The match has become a positive asset for City ahead of their visit to Madrid's home ground. In addition to being able to rest the key players, Guardiola no longer needs to worry about rotating the squad in the coming weeks. As is known, they will play four times between February 12 and 22. All of these matches are crucial.

On the other hand, the Newcastle squad must quickly restore their fitness. They will be facing Barcelona in less than 72 hours. "We need to focus on the next match immediately. The supporters will always be with us, whether we are on top or at the bottom. It will be a big match," said Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier.

The FA Cup quarter-finals are set to become even more intense. Four major teams have successfully secured their place in the next round, namely City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Teams from the top division still have the potential to follow suit, including Sunderland and Brentford. (AP/REUTERS)