Pep Guardiola revs up Manchester City as new boss checks in to take first training session
Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri amongst big names to be put through their paces by double Champions League winner
PEP GUARDIOLA took his first training session as Manchester City manager today.
Just as ace rival Jose Mouninho was checking in across the city at Old Trafford, former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola set about turning City into real Champions League contenders.
The Spaniard didn’t have much to work with – many of the club’s stars like Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling are yet to return from their summer holidays following stints at Euro 2016, but the likes of Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure were there.
It will be fascinating how things work out with midfielder Toure. He hardly flourished under Guardiola at Barcelona and could well be on his way again.
But for the youngsters on parade it was a first taste of life under a two-time Champions League winner.
New coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, an expert in rehabilitation, is one of five new coaches brought in by Guardiola, including former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta.
He took the players through his stretching regime.
If Guardiola’s previous tactics are anything to go by City players must be at peak fitness to carry out his high pressing game. He also demands they tackle back.
Said Guardiola: “I don’t want any preconceptions before. No. I have to learn as much as possible. I have an idea how we are going to play but I learned in Germany – I arrived there with an idea and after I [found] I should change. ”
Guardiola has quickly taken to the Manchester restaurant scene. He was pictured visiting Chinese restaurant Wings, a favourite haunt of the city’s footballers, as he stepped out with friends on Monday night.
