Pep Guardiola gave the impression of confirming that the next two games of Manchester City’s US trip will not see any new players join the team.
Any City player who advanced past the group rounds of the European Championship would be permitted to begin their preseason in Manchester in August, according to a story published earlier this month by The MEN. The extended Club World Cup will take place in July of the following year, and the four players who advanced all the way to the final—Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden—have been offered further time off if needed.
But according to the official City website, after Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic landed in New York, a few new faces will be joining the team for the remaining two tour games. The Blues arrived in Orlando on Tuesday to play Barcelona before traveling to Ohio on Saturday to play Chelsea.
When asked if he thought any additional players would be available for those friendlies, Guardiola played down the notion. “I don’t think so; everyone who was going to be here has returned.” When we return to Manchester, I grant extra days,” he remarked.
The manager further stated that he has instructed the four European Championship finalists to wait to return to training until they are ready to kick a ball once more, even if that is after United’s Community Shield on August 10. Given the demands placed on them during the campaign, City prefers to give their players four weeks off during the summer.