Pep sitting on a China crisis

PEP GUARDIOLA is on a collision course with Etihad bosses over the club’s plans to travel to China next summer.

Guardiola has been told he will be taking his Manchester City squad to the Far East for their pre-season tour.

City have just flown back from America, where Guardiola’s side completed a successful trip that saw them beat Real Madrid and Tottenham.

He would like to go back to the States next summer.

Guardiola was unhappy 12 months ago when City endured a miserable tour of China. Their game with Manchester United was called off due to problems with the pitch in Beijing.

City blamed United for not doing enough to improve the playing surface and Guardiola was also unhappy with the general facilities and the humid conditions. It remains to be seen if he can persuade Etihad bosses to change their minds about going back.

One of the club’s main sponsors is Chinese, while investors China Media Capital (CMC) and CITIC Capital purchased a 13 per cent stake in the City Football Group (CFG) in 2015.

Etihad chiefs will be under pressure to make the side return to the Far East next summer.

Earlier this month United boss Jose Mourinho revealed he had no intention of taking his squad back to China.

Like Guardiola, he hated last summer’s tour and vowed never to return.

Mourinho intends to return to America because it provides better conditions to prepare ahead of a new season.