
Pep Guardiola says he’s dissatisfied Phil Foden, John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan usually are not a part of Manchester Metropolis’s pre-season tour of america, admitting their absence is inflicting “massive issues” for his crew.
Metropolis are presently in Houston, the place they put together to face Membership America on Thursday earlier than touring to Inexperienced Bay for a match with Bayern Munich on Sunday.
However England internationals Foden and Stones, in addition to Germany worldwide Gundogan, will miss the friendlies after failing to satisfy the necessities to enter america. Most vacationers to america have to be totally immunized, which additionally prevented N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek from participating in Chelsea’s pre-season journey to the nation.
The trio are coaching with Metropolis’s U23s in Croatia and can be part of the senior squad after they return from America, however Guardiola says his facet’s lack of ability to get pleasure from a full pre-season collectively may value them when the competitors begins subsequent month.
Requested if he was dissatisfied to be with out Foden, Stones and Gundogan, the supervisor stated: “Sure, very a lot. I want they have been right here.
“Second season right here [2017/18], after we completed with 100 factors, that was the one preseason match the place we have been all collectively from day one. Since then 4 gamers arrive, then after a number of weeks one other one and we begin the season with unbelievable issues. That is why we drop so many factors each season originally.
“This season I believed possibly we must always all be collectively, however as a result of private conditions of those three gamers, and different conditions with others, we can’t be collectively. We’re late however that’s what it’s. Going ahead and in the present day you need to change.
“Earlier than, each pre-season was three, 4, 5 weeks collectively. Now it is over, with the World Cup, the Euro cup. [European Championships] – many competitions.
“The gamers must relaxation after a troublesome, robust season. However they’re match, they’re coaching with the U23s in Croatia, and after they come again they are going to be superb.”
‘Neymar studies are false – sorry!’
One other participant who is not going to be a part of Metropolis’s pre-season – or certainly their total marketing campaign – is Neymar, regardless of studies in a French newspaper. Parisian that the ahead was launched to the English champions this summer time.
However Guardiola denied the claims, saying: “I am very sorry Parisian however not true. I am sorry as a result of the knowledge they leaked is fake.
“Neymar is an excellent participant and, from the knowledge I’ve, an excellent younger man. So let him relaxation, let him specific the good expertise he has in Paris with [Lionel] Messi and all the large stars they’ve.
“However I can say Manchester Metropolis each season purchased 150 gamers. It appears we’re excited about all of the gamers on the planet. that is not true. Sorry for Neymar, after all!”
Metropolis are concentrating on Cucurella to switch Zinchenko
Nonetheless, Metropolis are excited about signing a brand new left-back and are nonetheless excited about Brighton’s Marc Cucurella, as Sky Sports activities Information was revealed in June.
Brighton are unwilling to let Cucurella go away and can demand an enormous supply to promote him because the Spain worldwide has 4 years left on his contract.
However with Oleksander Zinchenko on the verge of a transfer to Arsenal, Metropolis must strengthen themselves at left-back, and Guardiola is placing his religion in Txiki Begiristain, the membership’s director of soccer, to seek out the fitting resolution.
“We’ll see,” stated Guardiola when requested about signing a brand new left-back. “I feel Txiki and his scouting division have names in each place. Txiki will know precisely what’s finest for the crew.”
Guardiola has praised Zinchenko’s outcomes with Manchester Metropolis and stated that the success achieved by the Ukrainian worldwide participant at Arsenal will probably be shared along with his former membership.
Earlier than Zinchenko moved to the Emirates, the Metropolis boss stated: “Like Gabriel [Jesus] and Raheem [Sterling]The affect of these three gamers in my years has been nice.
“So we are going to miss them. They’re distinctive gamers however, in several circumstances, they’re shifting ahead.
“Chelsea and Arsenal are two superb golf equipment and the success and happiness they get there will probably be ours.
“For me and I feel on behalf of the membership, our thanks for his or her efforts and the way in which they behave on and off the sector.
“It was good yesterday with Oleks as a result of let’s imagine ‘bye’ correctly. Sadly with Raheem and Gabriel we could not try this as a result of it was summer time, however yesterday at dinner collectively let’s imagine ‘bye’ to him.”
Walker: Haaland has massive boots to fill
Erling Haaland, a £51 million signing from Borussia Dortmund, is a part of Metropolis’s tour of america and will make his debut in opposition to Membership America.
Kyle Walker says he has been impressed with what he has seen from the striker, who scored 85 objectives in 88 video games for Dortmund, however warned the 21-year-old that he has massive boots to fill in Sergio Aguero’s Metropolis document. the highest scorer who left the Etihad a yr in the past.
“Erling has been actually good,” Walker stated. “He’s younger – we now have to take that under consideration.
“Clearly he has massive obligations and possibly massive boots to fill with Aguero being the final – bar [Gabriel] Jesus – Manchester Metropolis’s out and out striker.
“However from what I’ve seen in coaching he seems sturdy, he seems sturdy and he seems keen, and that is the principle factor. So long as he retains up his requirements, continues to do what he was doing at Dortmund and brings the identical mentality. It fits the Premier League .
“Everyone knows it is very tough, no one comes into the crew and steps up right away so it is going to take time, however it’s our duty as gamers, managers and the membership generally to verify we succeed. to make him really feel as welcome as potential.”