PEP GUARDIOLA scrapped plans for an early-season trip to Spain this week — to keep his players fresh for their tilt at a Premier League hat-trick.
The Manchester City boss had pencilled in a warm-weather camp near Barcelona during the free midweek.
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Guardiola looked into facing one of Girona’s teams in a friendly match played behind closed doors.
But the Spaniard reckons training at the Etihad Campus will better suit them after a gruelling summer for some players.
Guardiola gave extra time off to players returning from the Uefa Nations League, Copa America or Africa Cup of Nations.
The club were also in China and Japan on their pre-season tour, featuring in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
A two-hour flight to Barcelona could have been possible in the eight days they had between the draw against Tottenham and Sunday’s clash at Bournemouth.
But they are still getting up to speed after two games of the season and staying in Manchester will help them recharge.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was among managers complaining their stars have not had a proper break this summer.
That is because the Premier League season started earlier than the rest of Europe, getting underway on August 9.
