“You know, I know, everyone knows we would like to have him but at the moment he is a Schalke player”, said Guardiola. “Some players get it immediately and the other ones never”, he said.
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Having played just twice in pre-season, after the Manchester derby in Beijing was cancelled due to an unplayable surface, City find themselves struggling for time to be ready for the new season as Guardiola seeks to impose his style of play on the Blues.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City’s interest in signing Everton defender John Stones and Schalke star Leroy Sane in the summer transfer window.
Many of Guardiola’s senior players have not played more than 45 minutes of football but he said the situation was unavoidable after the Euros and Copa America.
“Last season he missed nearly the whole year and we don’t want that to happen again – he has to be fit”, he said.
“Competitions finish so late and start again so early so we have to adapt”.
“If he comes we’ll be happy, if he stays in Schalke I will be happy for the fans and for the Schalke club”.
“They’re far away from who we want to be.” . “Hopefully in the next two weeks, he will be okay”. Today we played one of the best teams in Europe – they are so strong.
“There are many things to improve”.
Nigeria teenager Kelechi Iheanacho started up front for the Citizens, with Jesus Navas and new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko supporting him on the wings as the Spaniard oversaw his second friendly four weeks into pre-season. We trained really well in Manchester. I know Fabregas is a good man, a good boy and is not a player to have this type of situation.
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Asked if Nasri is responding well, Guardiola said: “I can not have any complaints about him”. “Every training session they try, to learn and they fight”.
