Man City Boss Guardiola Happy With Squad's Fitness as They Return to Training

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed how impressed he is with his squad's fitness, despite football being paused for more than two months.

The City playing staff returned to training last week for the first time since football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic back in March, following the British government giving them the green light.

While Premier League squads have been broken down into smaller groups and full contact is prohibited at the moment, Guardiola is more than happy with what he's seen from his team and can see they've been working hard to maintain their fitness levels, despite being on lockdown in their homes.

“Yeah, really good,” he said when asked about the condition of his players. "I think they were looking forward to coming back and to train again and do what they like.

With ten games left to play in the Premier League and further games in the FA Cup and Champions League awaiting the Premier League champions, it's important the players are at full fitness and are more than able to compete to their fullest in each competition, but Guardiola is confident that the players are in great shape.

“They came back perfectly," The former Barcelona manager told the Club's official website.

But while focus is on football and the Premier League's return, Guardiola made sure to voice his appreciation for the key workers and what they have done for us all throughout the difficult months since the country went into lock down and has pleaded with Manchester City fans to follow government guidelines in the interest of safety.

Guardiola himself lost his mother to the disease. “The special ones are the doctors, nurses, scientists, cleaners – they put their own lives at risk to save ours.

“But now the most important thing is to follow the instructions. If they say use a mask, stay at home, social distance…we have to do it. Because there are many, many people in the NHS who put their own lives at risk to save ours.

“It’s incredible what they have done, and we have to follow them. Now, we cannot do anything wrong.”

Source : 90min