Guardiola still strategizes for Man City
Guardiola has suffered from back pain for a long time, so he had to fly back to Spain for surgery on August 22. The surgery was a success, but the 52-year-old coach needs several weeks to recover at home. He will miss the next two matches against Sheffield and Fulham in the English Premier League, then re-appear after a series of national team matches in September 2023.
In a press conference on August 25, assistant Juanma Lillo said Guardiola is still in regular contact with the coaching staff, players, and is even researching Sheffield via video to help Man City best prepare in terms of battle. art.
When asked if Guardiola had participated in the pre-match preparations, Lillo replied: "Of course, Pep is always there! We are still in contact by phone, video call... Pep is even watching documentary about Sheffield . What's important is his health, but that doesn't stop Pep from working. The head coach remains fully focused on the team and the game."
According to Lillo, Guardiola feels fine and is recovering well from the operation. This assistant said he would replace Guardiola directly convey the message to the players in the meeting before the ball kicks off, because Guardiola prefers to talk directly with the players instead of holding video calls.
When asked about his own message to the players, Lillo replied: "We still have some training sessions. Sometimes it's about how you feel about the opponent and the whole team. Guardiola is doing his job. And we'll talk about that."
Lillo revealed that Bernardo Silva - the midfielder who was sick and missed the opening two Premier League matches - is ready to return, while Jeremy Doku - the winger who has just been recruited from Rennes for $ 70 million - needs time. stabilize and adapt to the new environment. He praised Doku for playing well in Ligue 1 and having the potential to take Man City's attack to new heights.
Lillo is five years older than Guardiola and has not had a standout title in his coaching career. But he is seen by Guardiola as an inspiration for style and dedication to his work. They also have a friendship of nearly 30 years, starting from the match between Barca and Oviedo in 1996. Guardiola was a player then, and Lillo led Oviedo.
Lillo worked as an assistant at Man City in the period of 2020-2022 and then went to Qatar to lead the Al-Sadd club. This summer, he returned to his old job after assistant Enzo Maresca left Man City to lead Leicester. Lillo is happy to be back on the touchline with Guardiola and wants to reap more success at the Etihad Stadium.
