On the eve of the upcoming Community Shield final on August 10, Beijing time, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attended a pre-match press conference to elaborate on a number of topics for his team.
The Reinforcement Program and the Harland Injury
Guardiola said that City are evaluating the need for further reinforcements, especially in light of Harland's unavailability due to a foot bone injury. He emphasized that while Harland's absence is a big loss, the team has alternatives that can fill the void. Meanwhile, Guardiola revealed that Harland is currently focusing on massage therapy and self-care in order to return to form as soon as possible.
International match days and fixture pressure
Guardiola has expressed his dissatisfaction with the international match day system, arguing that this high frequency of fixture scheduling poses a huge challenge to the physical and mental health of players. He mentioned that he will use this time to visit his father in Barcelona and called attention to the tiredness of the players under the intensive schedule. For the upcoming intensive schedule, Guardiola said the team must be well prepared.
Staffing changes and future planning
Guardiola thanked the departing Sergio Gomez and Alvarez and introduced the team's current young players such as Savinho, Nico O'Reilly and James McCarty. He revealed that City are considering whether they need to bring in a striker as a replacement for Harland in order to cope with the intensive fixtures ahead.
Manchester United and Arsenal's summer window investment
For Manchester United and Arsenal in the summer transfer market in the big money investment, Guardiola said that this is not new, for many years they have maintained such investment. He also pointed out that when Manchester City made a similar investment, it will cause more attention and discussion.
The Role of Calvin Phillips
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kalvin Phillips is likely to play in the center back position against Manchester United. He praised Phillips' performance in pre-season and believes that he is capable of playing the role. Guardiola also said that the team will continue to watch the market and may bring in new players to strengthen the midfield in the future.
Gralish and goalkeeper performance
Guardiola spoke highly of Grealish's performance in pre-season, saying that he showed good athleticism. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of Ederson and Ortega in the goalkeeping position, stating that their consistency and experience are crucial for the team.
