Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits he is ‘disappointed’ that Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones have all missed the club’s tour of America… as he insists his side ‘ALWAYS’ drop points after stars missed preseason
- Three of Manchester City’s stars have missed the club’s US pre-season tour
- Instead, the trio trains with the U23 national team in Croatia
- Pep Guardiola insisted his side will remain prepared for the start of the season
- He also dismissed rumors that City were planning a bid for Neymar as ‘not true’.
pep Guardiola admitted the absence of three first-team stars has stalled Manchester Citythe chances of a rarely perfect pre-season.
phil foden, Ilkay Gundogan and John Steine are traveling with the club’s Under-23 side in Croatia after failing to meet American eligibility requirements for two friendlies on the tour.
While Guardiola insisted the trio will be ready for the start of the season, he had been hoping for a full compliment as they prepare for a second straight title defense.
Ilkay Gundogan was one of three key players missing from Manchester City’s US preseason
Phil Foden was also absent as the trio trained with the U23s in Croatia instead
“It’s disappointing, I want them to be here,” said Guardiola. “Our second season, ending with 100 points, was the only season we were all together.
“Since then, four players have always come and a week later another one. We started these seasons with incredible problems. Every year we lose points.”
City’s first of just two pre-season friendlies comes against Club America in Houston, while defender Ruben Dias was the only player absent on Tuesday.
Guardiola added: “This season I thought maybe we will all be together but because of the personal situations of these players. But it is what it is, we will evolve and we have to adapt.
John Stones was the third absentee as City prepared to defend their Premier League title
“The pre-season can last three, four, five weeks, but now it’s over. But they are fit, they train with the U23s and they will come back and join us and they will be fine.
Guardiola also ended talks of City considering a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar as the club had claimed all summer they would not seek to replace Raheem Sterling.
“I’m sorry, but it’s not true,” he said. “This information is incorrect. Neymar is an incredible player and the information I have is an incredibly nice guy. But it’s not right. Every summer (so they say) Manchester City will buy 150 players.’
