Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola, has insisted that his players should not be thinking about upcoming games and must focus on the FA Cup semi-final clash against Sheffield United. The game comes just three days after a tough Champions League game against Bayern Munich and four days before a top-of-the-table Premier League match against Arsenal.
Guardiola acknowledged that some of his players may be feeling tired due to the grueling schedule, and he and his medical staff will need to be cautious with those who played against Bayern Munich. The players will have only one training session before the Sheffield United clash, and Guardiola plans to limit their training to no more than 20 minutes. Despite this, he made it clear that he will not tolerate any players who think they can be rested for games ahead that they think are more important.
“I have to convince them of the reality that [while] the tiredness is there, you can use it as an excuse or an opportunity,” said Guardiola.
He emphasized that the players must have a positive mindset and not let tiredness affect their performance. Guardiola believes that it is essential to stay focused on the task at hand and not think about upcoming games.
“If you have an opportunity you will be ready at 4.45, [but if] you have an excuse you will be tired so it depends on your thoughts. Your thoughts all the time control your body mentally, your mental approach and you can think bad or good. Wrong or a positive way. That depends on you, not the manager or anyone outside or anything.”
Guardiola is expected to make some changes for the game as City juggle three competitions, and he will have to take into consideration the fitness levels of each player. Bernardo Silva, who recently asked for a break, could be among the players to continue.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of making every effort to sustain City’s chances in all competitions. “They are human beings too, but they have six or seven weeks left we have to do every last effort, to sustain the chances of being in the competitions as long as possible,” he said.
City have reached the FA Cup semi-final for a fourth consecutive year, and Guardiola is determined to take his team to the final. With a Champions League final and a potential Premier League title to fight for, Guardiola believes that success in the FA Cup could give his team the momentum they need to win all three competitions.
