Following the club’s punishment for often being late to start games and staying late after halftime, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has announced that he will shorten his halftime team talks.
The team acknowledged they broke 22 Premier League regulations “without good reason” and paid a £2.09 million fine.
Guardiola stated, “I just read it in the news,” in response to a question about the circumstances. I would make an effort to cut down on my halftime talks.”
He was speaking before Saturday’s pre-season match against Chelsea in Columbus, USA.
After Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Guardiola had very few senior players at his disposal. As a result, he started Norway’s striker Erling Haaland heavily, even though his side did not make it to the summer event.
After saying that Haaland experienced “muscle niggles” earlier, Guardiola now stated: “He woke up and feels much better.” And maybe he can play for a little while.”
Regarding reports that Atletico Madrid is in discussions to sign forward Julian Alvarez, who is presently representing Argentina at the Olympics in Paris, Guardiola declined to comment.
But he reseved some kind words for his opposite number Enzo Maresca, who was a former member of his staff but is now managing Chelsea.
“I’m really pleased for him,” Guardiola added. “We spent a special year together.
“He is an incredible, lovely person. And his family too.
“He did a really good job – unbelievable – at Leicester: promotion to the Premier League and now he is in one of the top five, six teams in England.
“And I wish him the best because he deserves it. Nice people deserve the best.
“And as a manager he has success because he has the most important thing. To be a manager is believing something deeply but, really, deeply, deeply.
“And whatever the results, I stick with my idea. And that’s why he believes in what he does.
“And he will have success. I don’t know how long, but he will have it.”