Pep Guardiola reveals unusual Manchester City preparation for Liverpool clash
Posted by  badge Boss on Nov 28, 2023 - 12:25PM
City are one of a number of teams dealing with a host of key injuries (Picture: Getty)

has claimed his side were only able to train for 35 minutes before their weekend clash with Liverpool as they try to avoid more injuries ahead of a hectic schedule.

City were with ’s 80th-minute strike rescuing a point for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The defending Premier League champions were only able to name six outfield players on the bench for Saturday’s fixture, with one of those – John Stones – not fully able to play.

Midfield trio Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are all sidelined with injuries, with the Catalan coach revealing he has been forced to curtail training sessions to prevent further injuries.

‘In seven years I don’t train. Maximum 35 minutes. We don’t train,’ Guardiola said as he revealed his side’s pre-match preparation for the fixture against Liverpool.

‘They started pre-season 15 days before [the start of the season] – do you know what 15 days is? We played the FA Cup final and the Champions League final. They had 15 days more with the new players.

‘We didn’t do one day of tactical [work]. The day before we train. It is the same for Jurgen [Klopp], I’m pretty sure. We did 10-15 minutes with the ball and 10 minutes defensively.’

Kevin de Bruyne remains a long-term absentee from City’s starting XI (Picture: Getty)

His side must now recover quickly ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday against RB Leipzig and the 52-year-old suggested that preparations will be just as limited.

‘Before Tuesday it will be 10 minutes on the pitch, moving in that way,’ Guardiola added.

‘We cannot train. If we train, we don’t have players for the next game. We don’t have them.

‘That’s why we have to learn from the past: just understand what you have to do. The press, who jumps. This is what we absolutely rely on.’

City have already secured their place in the Champions League knockout rounds with four wins from their first four matches.

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