Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hits out at 'ridiculous' Premier League medal rules

Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz risk missing out on a medal after making just four league appearances this season

Phil Foden has made four league appearances for Manchester City this season (Getty)

Pep Guardiola has hit out at the Premier League’s “ridiculous” rules on winners’ medals with Manchester City youngsters Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz at risk of missing out on a reward for their efforts this season.

Ahead of City’s final outing of the season at Southampton on Sunday, Foden and Diaz have each made four league appearances for the newly-crowned champions.

The Premier League have given City 40 commemorative medals which can be handed out to as many players, staff and officials as the club sees fit – so long as each player with five appearances receives one.

Foden and Diaz took part in City’s celebrations with the Premier League trophy after Sunday’s goalless draw with Huddersfield Town but did not receive a medal during the post-match presentation.

The pair will now only be guaranteed a memento of City’s season if they appear at St Mary’s in the final game of the season.

Guardiola labelled the Premier League’s rule on medals “ridiculous” and claimed that all players who have played and trained with the first-team should be rewarded.

“I didn’t know it but, all respect, it looks ridiculous to me. All respect. If they want my medal I will give them medal.

“They are champion. They are champion. They worked from day one to the last one, training with us in the locker room, training. They didn’t play because of my decisions, but it’s the same.

“It’s like Tosin [Adarabioyo]. Day one from the other ones, training with us. They are champion. It doesn’t matter they don’t have medals. Maybe it’s so expensive to give three, four, five medals for the young guys. They are all the time training with us.

“Of course, maybe I will be concerned by that,” Guardiola added. “Maybe they will be in the line-up, maybe they will play. I don’t know because still I didn’t think about the line-up for Southampton. But that is my opinion.”

When asked whether he planned to award medals to Foden and Diaz anyway, regardless of how many games they play, Guardiola said: “I will see, maybe. Maybe the last game play Brahim and Lucas [Nmecha] because I decide that, because Brahim more minutes than Lucas in that game, because Phil played days before.

“I don’t know, I try to handle the team, try for everybody to be happy. It’s simple like that.”