City players have to be ready for Chelsea clash, says Guardiola

The overcrowded schedule in club football, with the addition of international tournaments and pre-season, has made it very difficult for footballers to take well-deserved breaks from the game.

Ahead of the opening weekend, Manchester City have just seen their big stars the likes of England trio Phil Foden, John Stones, and Kyle Walker return to training and will be in contention to play against Chelsea in the opening weekend.

City manager Pep Guardiola claimed that the team would have surely liked to give its players more rest but the schedule does not allow them to do so and the team now needs to be ‘ready’ to face Chelsea on Sunday.

“We prioritise the rest, absolutely, I would love to give even more time, but it is what it is. I demand the best from Sunday against Chelsea. We know we have to take points as soon as possible and when the players are fitter and in better physical condition, they have to be ready,” said Guardiola to reporters in the pre-game conference.

A positive note for the Manchester-based side is the availability of their players. Guardiola confirmed most of them will be fit to start this week. However, he went on to reveal that there is ‘no chance’, that the team’s midfield anchor Rodri will play against Chelsea.

Another cause for concern for the side will be the injury of youngster Oscar Bobb. The 21-year-old was mighty impressive during pre-season and the manager had confirmed he was impressed by what he had seen. Unfortunately, he got injured during a training session and is expected to be out for three to four months.

“It was in the training session and unfortunately he had a big impact and was injured. He will have surgery and hopefully, he will be well and we welcome him back as soon as possible in three, or four months. We are so sad for him, but not because he was making an incredible pre-season, because that doesn’t matter when [the] injury is a long time it is a problem and we’re looking forward to seeing him again as soon as possible,” he concluded.

Maresca vows to close the gap on champions City: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists it is only a matter of time before his expensively rebuilt team challenges City for the Premier League title.

Maresca, hired from Leicester in the close-season, is Chelsea’s sixth manager in a troubled period since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club in 2022.

The Blues finished 28 points behind champions City last term and have endured a summer of upheaval as Boehly embarked on a spending spree that has left Maresca with a dangerously bloated squad.

After leading Leicester to promotion from the Championship last season, Maresca will endure a Premier League baptism of fire when City visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday to start their bid for a fifth successive title.

But the 44-year-old Italian, who served on City manager Guardiola’s coaching staff prior to his one season with Leicester, is confident Chelsea can make life uncomfortable for his old employer if he is given time.

“For me, my personal opinion, the big difference in this moment between us and other teams that are dominating English football, is just a matter of time,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.

“Clubs that have worked with the same manager nine years, eight years. We’re working with the same manager for one month.

“For sure with time, we are going to close the gap. Hopefully it can happen very soon.”

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal will have to be almost perfect in their pursuit of City if the Gunners are to end their long wait for a title.

Arteta’s side enjoyed a record-breaking 2023/24 campaign, winning more games than ever before in the division, but were still pipped to the title.

City finished two points above Arsenal thanks to their last-day victory against West Ham, rendering Arsenal’s win over Everton irrelevant.

Arteta, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s league opener at home to Wolves on Saturday, was asked what it would take to finally win the title after finishing as runners-up to City in the last two seasons.

The Arsenal manager made it clear his team would have to reach new heights to shatter City’s four-year grip on the title.

“Break more of those records again, earn more points, for sure,” the Spaniard said.

“It (89 points) won’t be enough. With the level we are competing with and every season is getting harder, we are going to have to improve again.

“I don’t know what perfect is but it has to be very close to the numbers that we’ve seen in recent years.”

Agencies