Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s pre-season plan for 11 players revealed following tournament participation and injury fears | OneFootball

Manchester City are set to be without several first-team players for an upcoming pre-season tour of the United States.

Pep Guardiola’s side travel to the USA for a four-match pre-season tour this month, with scheduled friendlies against Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea ahead of the start of the campaign in August.

Manchester City are set to begin their Premier League title defence at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea next month, and will also kick-off their domestic campaign against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

The Blues’ upcoming matches in the United States will take place in North Carolina, New York, Orlando and Ohio, although only a handful of first-team regulars are expected to be involved in the tour, as the majority of players are afforded rest following international tournaments.

Manchester City players have competed in both the European Championship and Copa America this summer, with Rodri and Julian Alvarez enjoying success in the respective competitions, as Spain beat England and Argentina overcame Columbia.

A number of the Blues’ squad reached the latter stages of the European Championship in Germany, meanwhile Rodri was forced off at half-time of the final in Berlin on Sunday due to a suspected hamstring injury.

Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb, Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Rico Lewis are some of the most high profile players set to be involved in the pre-season tour, with Kalvin Phillips also expected to travel despite suggestions of an exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Jack Gaughan reports that the majority of Guardiola’s first-team squad won’t return to the City Football Academy for training until the week of the FA Community Shield, as the Catalan coach chose to afford players an ‘extended’ break following the conclusion of the campaign.

Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji all reportedly have a month off, meanwhile the returns of those involved in the Euro’s final and Copa America final are set to be ‘discussed’ in the coming days.

Manchester City were the final Premier League club to return for pre-season this week, with Guardiola having become accustomed to providing players with extended post-season breaks.

The majority of the travelling squad to the USA is set to be academy talent, although Croatian pair Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic could be involved in some capacity.

Gvardiol is currently on holiday in the United States, with Manchester City travelling to America imminently ahead of their first friendly next week.