Pep Guardiola has hinted that he will use his ‘second team’ in the Community Shield against Leicester City.
The Blues will have to endure a makeshift pre-season schedule over the coming weeks after most of their first-team stars reached the latter stages of Euro 2020 or the Copa America, which meant they’re still away on their mandatory break from playing.
That means Guardiola will be forced to use mostly youngsters for City’s pre-season commitments, although there were starts for Zack Steffen, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez on Tuesday against Preston.
Before City beat Preston 2-0 at the City Academy Stadium, though, the MEN confirmed City will play Championship side Barnsley on Saturday (31 July) after UK government travel restrictions forced the club to abandon their friendly game against Troyes in France.
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Guardiola reflected on City’s win over Preston after the game and explained what he wanted to see against Barnsley.
“With mistakes, they don’t matter. They did very well. We have to adapt. Just three or four players from the first team, every week more players are coming. Hopefully they come back and they can train and they don’t have to rest or be isolated,” Guardiola said.
“I know we don’t have time because in 10 or 11 days we have the Community Shield, but we’re going to play with a second team and we’re going to train. For everybody, it’s a tough season. Every season is so tough, demanding and important.
“Yeah, recover the principles [against Barnsley], they have to restart and feel comfortable on the pitch, and as many games we can play the better condition they will feel. We’re going to have the feeling that day by day, we can feel better.”
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