26 July 2023 , 17:00
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Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City players are feeling the heat.
The Treble winners have been sweltering in blistering Far East temperatures as they prepare to defend the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup with a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
City beat Bayern Munich 2-1 last night after opening with a 5-3 victory over Japanese champions Yokohama Marinos at the weekend.
But Guardiola suggested Erling Haaland and Co will just have to sweat it out to help the Blues raise much-needed commercial revenues. Guardiola said: “When I was younger I was grumpy all the time - I cannot train, I cannot do this.
“Now I am getting older and I learn you have to adjust better. It is what it is, survive the heat, take good rhythm from the good games you play and go back to Manchester.
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“If you cannot train because it is 50 degrees and humid, you don't train and nothing will happen.
“These guys play 60 games a season. Today, managers at this level don't have to have training. You just be here because the club needs to do it for commercial issues - and so we have to do it.
“If people say go there, we go with a big smile, try to do good training sessions and not to get injuries, and come back.
Guardiola admitted that his players still need more work to get ready for the new season“I wouldn't say we are far away but we are a way from our best condition to be in top, top form. That is normal. We rely on the mentality and principles that we have. It is what it is and what it has been in previous seasons. We always play the Community Shield not in a good condition.”
Guardiola started the game with Bayern target Kyle Walker as captain - and is still fighting to persuade the England full-back to sign a new contract that will keep him at the Etihad.
Bayern are also chasing Tottenham striker Harry Kane after having their opening bid rejected for £100million-rated England captain. Boss Thomas Tuchel insisted he had no reason to be coy about his admiration for Kane.
Tuchel said: “I have nothing to hide about Harry Kane. I am looking for a player, because we have a lot of injured players, and we have a difficult situation. We made a lot of opportunities today.”