Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said that there simply isn't enough time to have his team practice everything he would like them to, while adding that he doesn't see a lot of point in rehearsing penalties despite misses from both Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne on Saturday.
City were held to a 1-1draw against Everton as a result - a second successive game without a win for Guardiola's team after they had started the campaign on a storming run of six straight Premier Leaguewins and maximum points.
"I don't have time to practice everything I want to practice," a smiling Guardiola commented as he faced the media after the game at the Etihad Stadium.
Pointing out that the majority of City's squad was away on international duty in the week leading up to the game, Guardiola declined to comment on the quality of Aguero and De Bruyne's missed kicks.
He did, however, highlight that the circumstances cannot be replicated on the training ground.
"Penalties, you can practice in a training session. But it's a training session, there's nobody there, there is no pressure there. So penalties here, or in the final of the Champions League, or in a crucial moment, that is a 'penalty'."
For Aguero, the save from Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg marked the fourth time he's failed to convert from 12 yards already this season for club and country. But the Argentine's poor record from the spot won't necessarily see the end of him taking penalties for City.
"If a player is there and says, 'I want to take a penalty', for me, it's enough," Guardiola said.
"[Aguero] is intelligent so if he isn't feeling confident, then he will say, 'I'll step back and let another guy take the penalty'."
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