Guardiola: Players Need Time to Rest

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola said he will allow his players to rest during the Club World Cup.

\"I made this decision — we came here to compete in the Club World Cup and to train well, but in our free time, I want full rest. If they want to play golf — by all means, let them! If they want to go to the beach — go! If they want to be by the pool, spend time with their families, and we can give them a day off — then let’s give them a day off! Otherwise, it will be very mentally tough for them.

We are in a great place, so we are sometimes organizing group activities, and sometimes solo ones — just to make sure they show up for training, especially on matchdays. We don’t want to spend too much energy 3–4 days before a game because the heat and humidity here make it very difficult. We finished one season and started another, so we haven’t lost our fitness.

The point is, we need a bit of rest and enjoyment, because we have an 11-month season ahead, with matches every 3–4 days. That’s why I decided: \'Guys, do whatever you want\' — that way, you’ll be ready for the games and feel your best,\" said Pep Guardiola.