Manchester City are in the vicinity of about 10 games away from winning the treble and super coach extraordinaire Pep Guardiola definitely has the wherewithal to know that, in order to get there in top fighting condition, they will have to keep the momentum going in an unprecedented season.
City’s treble bid is definitely on track as they astutely fuel themselves with lots of water and sleep while cranking up a gear to charge towards the treble as Pep Guardiola seeks to keep his players fresh ahead of a thrilling run-in.
With about 10 games left to play – factoring in the assumption they reach the Champions League final in Istanbul on June 10 – that would be the culmination of a season of unprecedented length and demand, due not least to the winter World Cup.
Within this scenario, the Blues would then be playing 61 games this season with the fixtures coming in a deluge now, as Guardiola’s side seek to maintain a firm grip on the Premier League title race before going at full tilt at a Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.
The great news for the Cityzens are that injuries are also clearing for them, as the likes of Nathan Ake are now back from a hamstring strain for the Premier League clash with West Ham tonight, and nidfield dynamo Kevin De Bruyne is also about to make a return to the pitch.
As the erstwhile Cityzens are gearing up to do intense battle on three fronts into May with a relatively small squad, gaffer Guardiola is already telling the players that tiredness shouldn’t be an issue considering the incredible prizes awaiting the eventual victors. Now standing unbeaten in 18 games, the Blues certainly have momentum on their side and the main priority now would be to ensure they remain in peak physical condition for six more weeks.
“My main role [now] is telling them that if you are tired, you’re wrong. You are not tired,” said Guardiola.
“People say about a lot of games, when you are winning games, I felt it as a player and in the past at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, when you see a manager dreaming ‘we are close to winning the title’, they feel the same.
“Now it’s a question of sleep and sleep and sleep. Eat a lot and drink – water, not another type of drink. Water, water, water. Take a lot of naps after lunchtime, better regeneration and use all energy in the moment of the game.
“The rest, they have incredible physios to take care of them. And they can do it. They did it in the past, they can do it. We are not going to lose games because we are tired.
“You are tired when you are out of the competitions. After [you are out] the seasons are so long, never end. You want to finish as soon as possible to start the next season. When you are here, you are not tired, that’s for sure.”
Guardiola heaped praise on the work of City’s physios and nutritionists in keeping his players fit and fresh during a long season, but is fully cognisant the demands on players will continue to rise.
“We have an incredible [nutrition] department with Tom [Parry] and Hannah [Mayho], they are both really good, the cooks are exceptional as well.
“Sleep, drink and eat is really important today, otherwise you cannot do it with this crazy schedule. We are prepared. These guys – season after season, 11 months, three weeks off.
“OK now we are finished go to national team and after go to Asia for the pre-season and go and go. So most of the time you talk just at the moment of the game or it can be too much.
“I think it’s going worse. The World Cup – more teams. More competitions. It’s not going to stop or reduce, it’s going to get even worse.”