Manchester City head coach Josep Guardiola expressed his views on the squad issue ahead of the match against Tottenham within the Premier League Round 2. According to the coach, three players will not be able to take the field this time, while the others continue preparations according to the plan.
According to Guardiola, in the previous game Rodri and Foden could not take part, because they had undergone shorter training compared to others. “In the last game Rodri and Foden could not take part. They were not there, the reason is they had less training than the others. They are ready for tomorrow’s game,” he said. At the same time, the coach added that the current condition of these two players is satisfactory and that they are ready to fully join the tactical tasks.
Also, as Guardiola noted, for now there are some absences: “Only Kovacic, Gvardiol and Savio are out.” Thus, rotation is expected in certain positions between the center and the lines. In the coach’s wording, maintaining the balance of the squad, managing the tempo of the game and selecting relatively universal performers remain an important part of the game plan.
For the team, this clash is considered the next mirror of preparation: whose decision-making speed is high, who maintains accuracy when escaping the press, who correctly allocates power in the middle line — all of this will be tested on the pitch. In this respect, Rodri’s return to rhythm and Foden’s creative role are assessed as having special significance in the construction of the attack.
Within the English championship, the Manchester City — Tottenham match will start on August 23 at 16:30 (local time). By that time the staff will complete the necessary preparation and deepen the tactical guidelines. In short, the updates in the starting squad are known, and now every small detail on the pitch turns into a factor affecting the result.
Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
