- Guardiola asked about player injury concerns
- World Cup next month
- City face Brighton on Saturday
WHAT HAPPENED? City possess a squad chock full of international talent, with a number of Guardiola's squad heading to the World Cup in Qatar with their respective countries. The manager was asked whether he feared players would be holding back in the lead-up to the tournament to avoid injury.
WHAT THEY SAID: Guardiola said he would drop any player he suspected was playing safe, and suggested it would be best to play normally to stay fit for the World Cup. "He [a player] will not play if I smell this," he said in a press conference. "And what is going to happen is that they are going to play because they will get injured when they are not ready. When you are focused, you don’t get injured.
"It is just two weeks and if you are here, you will be perfect for the World Cup. Otherwise, you will be in trouble."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: This will be the first ever World Cup to be played mid-season, and some international superstars have already expressed concerns about getting injured ahead of the showpiece event with the action coming thick and fast - including Lionel Messi.
IN TWO PHOTOS:
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY? Guardiola has insisted full focus is on the next Premier League match, which comes at Brighton at 3pm on Saturday.