Pep Guardiola is navigating the international break with cautious optimism, as his primary hope is for his Manchester City players to return without any injuries. While he would rather his players avoid international duty altogether, he acknowledges the honor of representing one’s country. Even some potentially inflammatory comments from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente aren’t likely to rattle him too much.
City had a couple of key absentees during their recent win over West Ham. Phil Foden, still struggling with illness, and Savinho, who unexpectedly missed out due to a minor setback, both withdrew from their respective international squads. Foden’s illness kept him from joining England, while Savinho opted out of Brazil’s squad. However, there’s optimism surrounding the young Brazilian winger’s recovery. Savinho recently posted an update on social media, showing himself working out in his personal gym in Manchester, indicating he is progressing well. Guardiola and City remain hopeful that Savinho will be back in training after the international break.
Meanwhile, Rodri made his first appearance of the season in Spain’s Nations League victory over Switzerland, where he faced off against club teammate Manu Akanji. Despite Guardiola’s careful management of Rodri at the start of the season, de la Fuente didn’t hesitate to start the midfielder, brushing aside City’s plan. Rodri lasted just under an hour, with his substitution seemingly a pre-planned decision, especially after Spain went down to ten men just 20 minutes into the game. Now, Rodri has six days to prepare for what could be his first City appearance of the season on Saturday.
Guardiola, though focused on club matters, keeps an eye on his players’ international performances. Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake, and James McAtee have all featured for their countries. Despite concerns, Guardiola expressed his desire for his players to represent their nations when fully fit. “All my English players I would like them to go to the national team when they are fit, and the other nationalities the same. I don’t like when they’re not completely fit and they go, but with the power of the national team, we don’t have anything to say,” he stated.
As City prepare to return to domestic action, they are also eyeing European success. After falling short last season, Guardiola and his squad are determined to reclaim the Champions League crown. City will face a challenging new-look format in the 2024 competition, which now features 36 teams in a giant mini-league, including powerhouses like Inter Milan, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. With hopes of triumph, Guardiola and City aim to prove they are the best team on the continent.
Fans can follow City’s European journey, with the Manchester Evening News providing extensive coverage of their Champions League campaign, as Guardiola looks to add another piece of silverware to the club’s collection.
