Pep Guardiola is not in a rush to get his star players back on the field, as he has suggested they take a sufficient break. As the Manchester City manager leads his squad to the USA for their pre-season commitments, major players who were involved in international duty are afforded an extended break.
Guardiola gives stars extended break
Though the pre-season team includes big names like Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, it is primarily filled with players from Manchester City’s academy. This presents the youngsters with an opportunity to thrive , as James McAtee has in the games so far.
Guardiola said the following regarding the players’ break: “If you don’t feel it, stay at home. Because it’s so long. Maybe some days before or after the Community Shield. That’s the plan. We will suggest they do something before they arrive. I am more concerned that they have energy and are happy to be in the locker room and training sessions. Then we say, Come back and welcome. I don’t want them to come back exhausted. It’s better if they stay at home a few more days.”
Pep Guardiola’s gamble
Anfield and Old Trafford are ready, with most of their key players back on the field and starting to work for the long season ahead. This gives them an early advantage over Manchester City, but Guardiola just wants a team with a fresh mindset. This campaign is expected to be exceptionally long considering the Club World Cup is set to take place after the end of the normal season.
Many of the key players in City’s eleven, like Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and Julian Alvarez, are enjoying their holidays and are expected to return in August. Rodri played a vital role for Manchester City last season, where he appeared in 50 matches across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing 14 assists. He was also the player of the tournament in the recently concluded Euros. Considering his current form, Pep will want to give him enough rest before he returns for the new season.
The pre-season matches did not start well for the Blues, as they faced defeats against Celtic and AC Milan, indicating the need for senior players to join the squad. They now take on Barcelona, who will be playing their first game under Hansi Flick. With the season opener against their local rivals set to take place in another 10 days, Pep will be hoping that he recovers most of his first-teamers by the Community Shield Final.
