On the eve of the upcoming Community Shield final, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attended a pre-match press conference to elaborate on his team's preparations, his players' form and his expectations for the game.
Guardiola showed both excitement and caution when talking about this showdown with Manchester United. "This game is very important for us because it is the final of the Community Shield against Manchester United, and games like this are always full of interest." He emphasized, "But at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to test ourselves on a bigger stage and improve the team step by step." Guardiola is overflowing with anticipation for the match, believing that it will be an exciting showdown and promising that City will give their all.
For the players in the squad who played in the Europa League final, Guardiola showed full understanding and care. "We understand that they have just been through an intense game and a long journey, so we give them the best rest possible." He revealed that some of the players, including the England international, will return to the squad next week, "We gave them enough rest as they need to regain their physical and mental strength." Guardiola emphasized that the team will respect the physical condition of each player and will not rush the process, but will let them adapt to the rhythm of the game step by step.
Speaking about the next preparation program, Guardiola said he will focus on the relevance and efficiency of training. "The next step is the training sessions and we will base our training program on the players." He explained, "We will try to train smartly enough and schedule the right amount of time to make sure the players are able to keep their heads up and be at their best for the game." In order to cope with the intensive schedule, Guardiola also revealed the strategy of rotating the players, "We will rotate the players as much as we can so that they all get a chance to play, while also keeping the team competitive."
Finally, Guardiola re-emphasized the importance of the game and expressed his confidence in his team. "It's a final and we need to show the best of ourselves." He said, "I believe our players are ready to give their best in the game and bring a great game to the fans."
