‘Sooner or later’ – Pep Guardiola impatience at four players adds to Man City uncertainty for Chelsea opener.

‘Sooner or later’ – Pep Guardiola impatience at four players adds to Man City uncertainty for Chelsea opener.

Pep Guardiola has seen Manchester City lose twice and draw once in three pre-season friendlies in the USA – as he lacks most of his first team stars.

Pep Guardiola of Manchester City looks on during a game between Manchester City and AC Milan at

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Pep Guardiola must be in a strange position – one he hasn’t been in too many times before.

The majority of his Manchester City squad in the USA are academy players. Four or five will be called upon throughout the season and he has talked up Nico O’Reilly, but he’s also admitted that 85 per cent of his main senior squad aren’t in the United States.

Of the outfield players who featured against Barcelona in Orlando, maybe Erling Haaland is the only one guaranteed to start in a first-choice first team this sesaon. Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol will feature heavily, Rico Lewis has started the summer well and Oscar Bobb is mounting a very good case that he should too. James McAtee is another who is set to stay and support the team.

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Yet the truth is that Guardiola is missing all of his big names and he is keen for us to know about it. He warned of City being undercooked at the start of the season because most of his big hitters are still on holiday.

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If they want, they can come back early. But if they don’t feel ready, he also won’t force them back. It’s a difficult position for the manager: on the one hand he said he is the only one who can protect his players by giving them a holiday.

On the other, he has no chance to work on tactics, build momentum or truly look ahead to the season. Haaland’s minor injury vs Barcelona only adds to Guardiola’s frustrations.

It was interesting to hear Guardiola’s explanation on Haaland’s ‘niggles’. He wouldn’t dare risk a longer-term injury that saw him miss the start of the season. But he also says ‘sooner or later he has to train’.

There was a sense of impatience in the answer, which follows a question the week before when Guardiola was asked if the 12-month season that follows means Haaland will need a rest at some point.

“Erling has already rested,” the boss said bluntly. “He was not in the Euros. A month and a half rest. Rodri has to rest, that’s why he’s still on holiday.

“He has to rest more [to manage the busy season]. If he’s tired, go to bed early. And he will be ready. Focus 24 hours and you will be ready. Tiredness is always an excuse. I push him to be incredibly more focused. The backroom staff help the players. He can be ready.”

Guardiola could also be described as being frustrated at hearing Julian Alvarez say he would have to think about his future. Alvarez has moved to clarify the situation and diffuse a manager who was clearly unhappy, but he also didn’t take that opportunity to commit his future to City.

Kevin De Bruyne has spent the summer talking of a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia. Guardiola opened his year of press conferences by saying ‘Kevin isn’t leaving’, but later said he only meant that he hadn’t been told of any bids.

Ederson, Guardiola’s transformative goalkeeper, is not guaranteed to stay either. The manager has given his backing to Jack Grealish after his summer struggles, yet he has also put the onus firmly on the winger to perform. No easy passes.

There’s only so much planning Guardiola can do. Getting a good look at some youngsters is good – but is it the best use of his time? It’s fair to see why he would he a little off about pre-season so far.

Because there is a limit on how much he can actually do when so much is up in the air.

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