Guardiola to shorten team talks after Manchester City fined £2m
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has announced that he will be shortening his half-time team talks after the club was fined for repeatedly being late in starting matches and resuming play after half-time
Manchester City admitted to breaching Premier League rules 22 times “without good reason” and were subsequently fined £2.09 million. In response to the fine, manager Pep Guardiola indicated that he plans to shorten his half-time talks. “I just read it in the news. I would try to do my speeches at half-time shorter,” Guardiola commented when questioned about the situation.
He made these remarks before Manchester City’s pre-season match against Chelsea in Columbus, USA. Due to the absence of many senior players following Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Guardiola has been giving substantial playing time to Erling Haaland. Norway’s failure to qualify for the summer tournament allowed Haaland to be available for these matches.
Previously, Guardiola mentioned that Haaland had been experiencing “muscle niggles.” However, he reported a positive update, saying, “He woke up and feels much better. And hopefully, he can play a few minutes.”
Pep Guardiola declined to address the rumors suggesting that Atletico Madrid is in negotiations for striker Julian Alvarez, who is currently participating in the Olympics in Paris with the Argentine team.
However, he expressed his admiration for his counterpart, Enzo Maresca, who was formerly part of Guardiola’s coaching staff and is now managing Chelsea. “I’m really pleased for him,” Guardiola remarked. “We spent a special year together.”
Guardiola praised Maresca, describing him as an “incredible, lovely person” along with his family. Reflecting on Maresca’s achievements, he said, “He did a really good job – unbelievable – at Leicester: promotion to the Premier League and now he is in one of the top five, six teams in England.”
Guardiola extended his best wishes to Maresca, emphasizing that “nice people deserve the best.” He noted Maresca’s potential for success, citing his deep conviction in his managerial philosophy. “To be a manager is believing something deeply but, really, deeply, deeply,” Guardiola explained. “And whatever the results, I stick with my idea. And that’s why he believes in what he does. And he will have success. I don’t know how long, but he will have it.