Manchester City’s players are being encouraged to “go to the beach” at the Club World Cup says Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola is encouraging his Manchester City players to take advantage of the surroundings at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, he told reporters.

The Manchester City manager has insisted in the lead-up to and during the ongoing Club World Cup that he and his squad view the tournament as the start of the brand new 2025/26 season, as opposed to a continuation of their last campaign.

Following on from a hugely disappointing 2024/25 season, Hugo Viana and City have moved with intent to ensure that the future of their playing squad is in the most capable hands, welcoming three new out-field players into their roster.

And with a firm intention on getting back to their competitive best during the upcoming European season, Guardiola and Manchester City have their targets firmly fixated on coming out on top at this summer’s Club World Cup.

Speaking to the media around Manchester City’s final group stage game of the Club World Cup, Pep Guardiola was keen to detail the plans he has put in place for his squad during the moments they have away from training ground duties.

“Before we arrived, after the end of a season that had been so demanding emotionally from the fact that it was not the best season in terms of the consistency in the results, I decided of course we’re going here to come to compete, we’re going to make good training sessions, but in the rest of the day I want to completely, completely relax the players,” said Guardiola.

“So if they want to play golf, [they can] play golf! If they want to go to the beach, [go to the] beach! If they want to be at the pool, if they want to be with their families, you know, when we can give a day off, [have a] day off! Otherwise it will be so difficult for all of us mentally,” he added.

The Manchester City manager continued, “We are in an incredible place and that’s why we make different activities together, sometimes alone, just to arrive fresh to the training sessions, especially the day of games.

“We don’t want to spend energy during the three or four days before the games, otherwise with this heat and humidity it will be so tough. Because when we finished the season and we restarted, we didn’t lose physical condition.”

He added, “Not all of them, but Bernardo [Silva], Ruben [Dias], for example, they went – Josko [Gvardiol] – to the national teams. So they didn’t have a day off.

“So that’s why it’s a question of maintaining a little, being relaxed, and have fun in that period, because we have 11 months ahead of us, games every three days and four days.

“That’s why we decide, I decide that, ‘Guys do whatever you want’, as much in the training session, in the moment of the game you are fine, you are fit, it’s good enough.”

So far, the training plan and lifestyle routine built around Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign has worked to perfection, building a strong bond and enjoyable environment for all those within the camp and claiming victories to secure a place in the last-16.