Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola has emphasised the need for his squad to be “prepared to endure” the sweltering Florida temperatures as they gear up to face Juventus in their concluding match of Group G at the Club World Cup on Thursday.
Both Manchester City and Juventus have secured the maximum six points from their initial two fixtures, confirming their spots in the round of 16, though the top position in the group is still up for contention.
The predicted temperature for the match at Camping World Stadium is around 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), which has been a concern at several tournament venues. The game is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 local time (21:00 CET).
Guardiola hinted that his team selection might involve several substitutions in the second half, contingent on the conditions.
“I’m making my selections tomorrow (Thursday) with a focus on the latter stages of the match because, in these conditions, we can’t maintain our normal rhythm,” he explained to the media.
“Every team will have to cope with the heat, so it’s something we must accept. In future tournaments, people will be better prepared for this, but we need to be ready to suffer. My recommendation to fans is to bring plenty of water, hats, and towels,” he added.
Thus far in the tournament, Guardiola has implemented a rotation strategy for his squad. However, he will miss the services of the suspended Rico Lewis as well as young Argentine player Claudio Echeverri, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury that is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the competition.
The Spanish manager also addressed a popular video that surfaced, showing him enjoying a game of beach football with some of the players near their accommodation in Boca Raton, South Florida.
Workload Management
Guardiola noted that the emphasis was on balancing the players’ workloads following a demanding season.
“The end of the season was extremely intense emotionally. It hindered our consistency and results. I made the choice to conduct effective training but allow the players to unwind for the remaining hours of the day,” he stated.
“If they wish to go golfing, hit the pool, or spend time with family on their day off, that’s perfectly acceptable – otherwise, it could become mentally exhausting. It’s vital to keep training sessions refreshing and not expend too much energy before matches, as it can be quite arduous. We didn’t lose our physical condition after the season.
“Some players joined their national squads without any rest days. It’s about maintaining fitness while also relaxing. We have a long 11 months ahead, so I decided they should do what they enjoy,” he concluded.
Juventus’ manager Igor Tudor mentioned that he might tweak his starting lineup but stressed that his focus remains firmly on securing a win.
As the situation stands, the team finishing second in the group is likely to face Real Madrid in the knockout stage.
“We will indeed make some changes, yet our priority is to play a solid game and achieve victory, selecting players who can help us meet this aim,” remarked the Croatian.
“The players are motivated and keen to perform; everyone is eager to be involved in these matches,” he added.
“Manchester City has been dominant for years, under the guidance of the world’s top coach. This will be a game where we give our all, play our style, and see how it unfolds,” he stated.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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