PEP GUARDIOLA was never going to be the most enthusiastic cheerleader for the Premier League’s Project Restart.
How could he be after the death of his beloved 82-year-old mother Dolors Sala Carrio, who contracted coronavirus in early April?
Pep Guardiola’s side have not played friendlies against other clubs to prepare for the return of footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Then there was the fact that Guardiola’s close friend and former assistant Mikel Arteta — who will be in the Etihad Stadium’s opposition dugout as Arsenal boss tonight — tested positive for Covid-19 in March, sending English football into lockdown.
Neither does Guardiola have any huge incentives for City’s final ten League games as they will surely finish between second and fourth.
So when asked what he expected from the prime-time opening-night match, Guardiola’s initial response was: “Not much.”
Guardiola was polite and smiling during his first press conference in this new age of pre-match Zoom calls — but the idea of playing behind closed doors does not fill such an obsessive football lover with great joy.
The City boss said: “When the players were little kids they played in school, in the square, in the street, without spectators.
“They play good in that period so that is what they have to do now.
“The idea is to adapt to the situation and just play football.
“What we’ve seen in Germany, especially, and in Spain is that the local (home) teams have less influence to win games.
“When you play at home, the support for your team always provides extra passion or extra momentum and this is not going to happen.”
While Guardiola accepts the financial necessity of completing the season, the City boss says his players are not fully fit, not ready for their packed fixture list and that they are likely to use all five subs in most matches.
There will be plenty of squad rotation with teenagers Cole Palmer, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Felix Nmecha all in contention, having trained with the first team.
And unlike most top-flight sides, City have played no friendlies against other clubs — just one practice match within their own squad to familiarise themselves with an empty Etihad.
Guardiola is clearly concerned about his players’ recovery as they face 17 games in just over two months should they reach the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus in MarchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He said: “We cannot use ice baths, it is not allowed.
“We are going to do the best for them but you know, in the other leagues, how the players suffer to arrive at the last minute and how difficult it is to recover and play another game.
“With the lack of recovery, you have to play another game with a lack of physical training or condition.
“They had six weeks (to prepare for the restart) in Germany, five in Spain, almost double what we had.
“We have the results of the GPS information about the players from every session and the feeling, the smell, about how they feel.
“But I learned from watching at home that it was a bit weird — playing without the supporters is strange.
“I learned that one team can play incredibly well the first day but the second day less. They go down in terms of rhythm and everything.
“I think there will be ups and downs, during games and especially two or three games in a row.
“I understand we have to do it and the Premier League have incredible protocols.
“Always you had the feeling that the economic damage for all the clubs was huge and you have to do this to reduce that economic damage.
“But we are human beings and want to be healthy.
“No one wants to die because there is contamination, because you don’t do what you have to do.
“The social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, we still have to do because the virus has not disappeared. We have to be alert.
“But we were in contact with the Government and scientists.
“If they allow us to do it, it is because we can do it. And if we can do it, of course we are going to do it.”
Guardiola is looking forward to a socially distanced post-match glass of wine with Arteta — and said that the rival managers had been texting about their choice of vintage.
He added: “We sent messages one hour and a half ago. It was about the wine we are going to drink if social distance allows it.
“I am so excited to see him again — one of the nicest people I ever met, so it was a joy to work with him.
“He knows our secrets as much as I do but he and I do not play.
“He was an incredibly important part of our success. He helped us to be who we are.
“We spoke (in March) because he started everything — this game with Arsenal was called off when Mikel had this disease.
“In the days after he announced he had Covid-19, of course we were all worried but after a week or two, it was good and he recovered well.”
Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during a friendly match against BrentfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mikel Arteta says Pep Guardiola has been an ‘enormous influence’ on him ahead of Arsenal vs Man City
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
