goal.com
The Bayern Munich boss has not named an unchanged starting XI since January 2014, and can reach his full century if he picks the same lineup against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Pep Guardiola is on the verge of naming a rotated starting XI for the 100th consecutive game, having opted against picking an unchanged Bayern Munich side since January 2014.
In fact, were he to break his habit and stick with the same side that beat Hertha for Saturday’s visit to Borussia Monchengladbach, it would only be the second time in his entire Bayern tenure that he has not rotated, stretching back 130 competitive games.
"For harmony, fitness and mind, rotation is the best solution," explained Guardiola when questioned about his extraordinary run of unchanged lineups previously.
"I like it when all of the players are getting a game. But, of course, there are players who are on the pitch longer than others.
"I don't have the time to explain [to] every player every week why he does not play. If somebody does not play, this does not mean I do not love him. And the players know that."
The one and only time Guardiola has stuck with the same starting XI was against Stuttgart in a 2-1 victory in the Bundesliga in January 2014, with the side featuring three players – Dante, Toni Kroos and Xherdan Shaqiri – who are no longer at the club.
Guardiola isn't the first manager to rotate his squad so heavily, with Rafa Benitez also going 99 games before finally picking an unchanged XI in what would have been his centenary game.
He still has some way to go to match the greatest tinkerman of them all, though, with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson having picked a different starting XI in an incredible 165 games across three seasons – ironically he lost the Champions League final to Guardiola's Barca during that run!
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