Pep Guardiola has hailed Manchester City‘s new summer signings and says he is happy with the way they have adapted in training – but more importantly, he feels they can bring something positive to the dressing room.
Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and Stefan Ortega Moreno have all joined Guardiola’s squad this summer, just two months after Man City secured their fourth Premier League title success in five seasons. Asked how they have bedded into their new surroundings, Pep said: “Step by step. It will not happen in one day or two days.
We cannot put too much pressure on these players. We need to get them houses, apartments in Manchester, and in the sessions what we want them to do will increase. The first impressions of Julian, Kalvin, Erling, and Stefan were really good – they seem like good people. Having good vibes in the locker room is more important than tactics”.
City are currently in Houston preparing for Wednesday’s friendly against Club America at the NRG Stadium. It is the first of two matches on US soil, with City travelling to Green Bay to face Bayern Munich next.
Pep Guardiola is delighted with the reception and facilities in Houston – and says our time in America is a chance for his players to begin getting up to speed before our Premier League opener at West Ham on August 7. “Thank you so much, it has been incredible”, he said.
“The hotel is fantastic. It is quite hot! But it was really good and calm. It is to restart the engine in our work. We still have absences here and players who could not travel. Step by step, we will feel better. We are a little away from our best”.
Meanwhile, the manager has rejected claims in a French newspaper that City have been offered Brazilian forward Neymar. “I am so sorry for Le Parisien, but it is not true,” he said.
“I am sorry for them because the information they have received is false. Neymar is an incredible player and by my information, he is a nice guy. Let him express himself at Paris. Manchester City bought 150 players every summer, and it is not true. I am sorry for Neymar, of course”.