Guardiola’s cure for stars’ World Cup hangovers
Pep insists he has the cure for the big names coming back late for City with World Cup hangovers
PEP GUARDIOLA is adamant Manchester City will still be hungry for success, even though they could be undercooked come the start of the season.
Guardiola has brought just a handful of first-team players to the US for City’s three games in the International Champions Cup and has told his World Cup stars to take off even longer if they still feel tired.
But contrary to Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho (right), who moaned this week about a lack of his senior players being available, the Blues chief claims he is used to preparing title defences without them and insists they will be ready for the big kick-off at Arsenal on August 12.
“That’s my business,” said Guardiola when asked how does he ensure his players stay hungry.
“This will be my third time I have handled this situation. I had it at Barcelona and Bayern Munich and now here with a lot of players, 70 per cent were with the national teams and will arrive back late. They arrive in the middle of Super Cups, Community Shields – and I know what to do.”
Guardiola only has record £60million signing Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane available out of his first-team regulars, while Bernardo Silva and World Cup winner Benjamin Mendy will join up in New York over the weekend.
Seven others, including Kevin De Bruyne, captain Vincent Kompany and the City’s England contingent, are not due back until a week before the campaign starts and Guardiola has told them not to return if they still feel jaded.
“It is what it is,” said the City boss. “They know because I spoke with them and they have to come back when they are physically and mentally ready to start, like a young boy, for the new season.
“If the days before they are tired and they are not ready mentally, and they don’t want to fight for the league title and the Community Shield, then stay on holidays.
“We cannot forget what we have done, because it would be a big mistake, but we start again. We will try and if they are ready, they will help us. If not, we’ll wait for them.”
Guardiola’s only fresh blood is Mahrez and he is content to turn to the club’s younger players to plug the gap in midfield Jorginho, who snubbed them to join Chelsea, would have filled. Frenchman Claudio Gomes joins from Paris Saint-Germain when he turns 18 on Monday and Guardiola believes his squad are good enough to retain the title they won in record-breaking fashion.
“We are the same players except for Mr Toure, who has gone,” said the Catalan in a swipe at Yaya Toure, who accused him of being racist. “But we have solutions.
“We have Fernandinho, Gundogan, Alex Zinchenko who can play in that position, Fabian Delph, and young players Douglas Luis, Claudio Gomes. So we’ll see.”