Man City’s Pre-Season Indicates Guardiola Factor Is Already Having an Effect

Manchester City are likely to be a little more careful when planning their next pre-season. This one has been somewhat chaotic and hasn’t maximised Pep Guardiola’s chances of preparing his squad for the new campaign.

The trip to China saw them play just one game after the cancellation of the proposed first Manchester derby outside of England. That wasn’t strictly their fault, and the tournament organisers, the International Champions Cup, must take some blame. But going to a country with unpredictable conditions leaves a club hostage to fortune, and City suffered as a result.

The heat and humidity were stifling, and training sessions under Guardiola are known for their intensity. It’s unlikely that his squad trained at anywhere near the level he would have liked during their six-day spell in China.

Three pre-season games played (four if you include the hastily arranged behind-closed-doors fixture with St Johnstone last week), and City face their opening Premier League game on Saturday looking somewhat undercooked. Their warm-up programme has left them open to criticism.

Having said that, Guardiola is already having a significant effect on a squad that was in drastic need of new direction. The club were enjoying themselves off the field prior to his arrival—but the one area they had stagnated in was where it really matters.

Their first-team squad had too many weaknesses and had lost direction. An 18-month period of regression under former manager Manuel Pellegrini needed reversing quickly and who better to mastermind that change than the most sought-after and respected coach in the game.

It will take time, but Guardiola has clearly made significant progress already. He wants to usher in a new style of play, one Pablo Zabaleta says is “completely different” from anything the players are used to.

“Since Pep came to the club, we’ve been working so hard under him. We know his style of play–it’s completely different to what we have done in the past,” he said after Sunday’s game with Arsenal in Gothenburg, Sweden. “We are focused on this and playing games, and trying hard to play the way he wants.”

There have been some real positives. The fitness of the players has improved already. Anyone who saw the likes of Zabaleta, Raheem Sterling and Fernando in Gothenburg will know they looked leaner than ever before.

Those who joined the Guardiola setup later after their exertions at the European Championship, such as Kevin De Bruyne, have a little way to go to catch up the ones who have spent a month with the Catalan manager.

It’s part of a strict fitness regime introduced by the new manager. Pizza is banned, while double training sessions are now the norm. Per Mark Ogden of The Independent, City defender Gael Clichy revealed during the trip …

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