Pep Guardiola gives his Man City stars the week off after abandoning training trip to Abu Dhabi

Pep Guardiola gives his Manchester City stars a WEEK off after abandoning warm-weather training plans in Abu Dhabi as club look to recover from recent Covid troubles in the winter break

  • Pep Guardiola has given his Man City stars a week off during the winter break
  • City had discussed the potential warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi
  • But the Spaniard has decided to give his squad a rest after their Covid outbreak
  • Riyad Mahrez will also be given a week off after Algeria’s AFCON elimination 


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Pep Guardiola has handed his Manchester City players a week off during the winter break after abandoning plans for a trip to Abu Dhabi.

City had discussed the potential for a warm-weather camp after Saturday’s match at Southampton.

The Premier League leaders will have two weeks without a fixture, not playing again until an FA Cup clash with Fulham on February 5.

Pep Guardiola has given his Manchester City stars a week off during the winter break

Pep Guardiola has given his Manchester City stars a week off during the winter break

Pep Guardiola has given his Manchester City stars a week off during the winter break

That break was seen as an opportune time to train in warmer climes, but they opted against travelling amid the recent coronavirus outbreak within Guardiola’s first-team bubble.

Guardiola and 20 others – made up of players and backroom staff – were forced into isolation earlier in the month, with further positive cases recorded over the last few days.

‘We spoke with the club and it’s not safe enough to go there all together right now because of the virus,’ Guardiola said.

‘We decided that everyone can go with their families. They will have a few days off to rest a little bit. Most of them never have a week off because they go to the national teams. They can spend time with their families and friends.’

Guardiola has decided to give his squad a rest after the club's recent   Covid outbreak

Guardiola has decided to give his squad a rest after the club's recent   Covid outbreak

Guardiola has decided to give his squad a rest after the club’s recent   Covid outbreak

Algeria were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations but Riyad Mahrez will miss Saturday’s game at St Mary’s.

‘He has a holiday for a week,’ Guardiola said. ‘He has permission to take one week off and come back with the team next week.’

The Catalan, who turned 51 this week, also labelled James Ward-Prowse as the finest set-piece taker in world football ahead of their meeting on the south coast.

‘He’s the best taker right now worldwide. There isn’t a better taker than Ward-Prowse. He’s so good at it that maybe you miss his quality as a player as well. He is a guy who adapts in midfield positions, a team player who has great quality with or without the ball. At freekicks, corners he is exceptional.’

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