Pep Guardiola has revealed Manchester Metropolis have been coaching on lengthy and dry grass this week in preparation for Saturday’s journey to Fulham.
Title-chasing Metropolis’s possession-based passing recreation is suited to the slick, watered floor they often play on on the Etihad Stadium.
Metropolis boss Guardiola claimed his workforce benefited from a slower pitch after they gained at Nottingham Forest final month as a result of it triggered the hosts to spurn some gilt-edged possibilities.
Nonetheless, that was extensively perceived as a delicate dig at Forest for not making ready a faster observe and he seems to expect Fulham to take an analogous method this weekend.
“Right here we’re, one week left to provide all now we have,” mentioned Guardiola, whose aspect will win a fourth successive Premier League in the event that they win their three remaining video games.
“It’s 12.30, a sunny day in London. I don’t know concerning the grass, final season it was so so excessive and dry.
“We have now to adapt like with Nottingham, attempt to struggle again with three factors.
“Yesterday we skilled a part of the session with a dry, excessive (grass) to really feel it, to adapt, and after we went to a different regular pitch.
“It’s an enormous distinction, huge. It’s one other recreation, one other recreation. You need to adapt.”
Guardiola in contrast the state of affairs to tennis.
The Spaniard mentioned: “There have been a number of video games – not many as a result of right here in England, of the 12 months 10 are winter and it’s raining!
“However after we arrive on the early and final video games of the season, it’s one thing now we have to consider.
“I noticed the forecast, it’s a sunny day in London so you must adapt in that state of affairs, play in one other rhythm and means. The passes have to be stronger, sooner, faster. The management should assault the ball extra.
“It’s fully completely different, it’s not basketball. It’s like Wimbledon or Roland Garros – ask a tennis participant, the pace of the ball is completely different.”
Metropolis head to London trailing Arsenal by some extent on the high of the desk however, considerably, having performed a recreation fewer.
The Gunners then face Manchester United on Sunday earlier than wrapping up their marketing campaign in opposition to Everton. Metropolis play their recreation in hand at Tottenham in midweek after which face West Ham of their closing recreation.
Someday they are going to sit down and realise that there are one year in a yr, no extra.
Pep Guardiola
Whereas the title race is Guardiola’s speedy precedence, Metropolis are as a result of play in a revamped 32-team Membership World Cup in 2025.
That match was within the information this week as international gamers’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Affiliation threatened authorized motion due to its affect on an already congested calendar.
“Someday they are going to sit down with one another and realise that there are one year in a yr, no extra,” mentioned Guardiola when requested his opinion at a press convention.
“We are able to change that? We are able to strive however possibly it doesn’t work!”
Requested if he may sooner or later envisage himself taking over an administrative function to sort out such points, Guardiola mentioned: “Completely not. I don’t like ties. I wish to put on sneakers.
“I don’t like conferences or official dinners or this sort of stuff. Perhaps I’ll give recommendation.”
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