Pep Guardiola will not be resting any Manchester City players against Brentford to save them for the World Cup. Guardiola had previously warned that any players he felt were ‘smelling’ the World Cup wouldn’t play, before admitting last week that some may have one eye on the tournament as it gets closer. However, on Friday, ahead of the last pre-tournament game, Guardiola said he has been impressed with the mentality of his players.
Pep Guardiola said: “What I’ve seen so far, against Chelsea and Fulham where it was 10 against 11, the commitment on what they have to do is 100 per cent. It’s the last game, most of the players right after the game leave for the national team. I’m sure they are packing, it’s a dangerous thing. They have to stay, we spoke a few times in the last days. Still four days, still three days stay here, don’t leave. Stay here. After have time to go with the national team. Absolutely we aren’t going to rest players for the national team. Absolutely not. I didn’t get any [call]. I didn’t get, not necessary to call me, I advise don’t call me.”
Guardiola confirmed he would head to Barcelona for a few days after the Brentford game to see his wife, children and father, where he would follow the World Cup on television and then begin to analyse City games ahead of the resumption of the league in December. And with a Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool now set for the week directly after the World Cup final – when many players may not be available – Guardiola insisted City would not make any preparations for their December fixtures until they know who will be available in the days beforehand.
Pep Guardiola said: “Going to the World Cup is great. They come back we’ll see, faces. We talk, how was the World Cup, how you are feeling, happy? How you perform? They will complain sure. We talk and after we see. Liverpool, how many players we have? Start to train. Now I’m not going to plan anything. After one week, ten days, two weeks for the guys that don’t go to the World Cup, after start to train. Before the game see what happens. I’m not going to make training sessions to play with these players or play in this way, I don’t know. Injuries, no injuries. If they win the World Cup they will be happier, other ones maybe don’t want to play in two days because they are not champion and will be sad. We have to see. One player arrives 10 days before Liverpool, one arrives one day before, another one month was already here. We are going to decide, the best way. Going to plan to win it, the future nobody knows.”
