Barely 72 hours have passed since City’s first game of the season against Brighton and they have already jetted off to Catalonia for an early season training camp.
Manchester City flew to Catalonia on Monday morning to what is being described as an intensive training camp. They will indulge in a friendly encounter against newly promoted Spanish side Girona in their 13,500 capacity stadium Stadi Montilivi. The game is scheduled to take place on Tuesday afternoon and could see the return of German Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan after nearly 8 months out with an injury. Since the match is really early in the season, it could see a lot of fringe players getting a chance and staking their claim for a first team berth.
Eliaquim Mangala, who might be offered a reprieve to stay at the Etihad while Manchester City struggle to find a centre back to provide cover for his first choice players will be looking to get minutes under his belt. Fit again Fabian Delph will also look to be involved as he angles for a move away from the Club. Bernardo Silva will also be eager to make an impression.
Girona are owned by Pep Guardiola’s brother and agent, Pere Guardiola. His Media Base Agency took over Girona in 2015 and there’s speculation they could soon become the sixth club in the Manchester City Football Group.
Read: This Chelsea and Spurs target suffers yet another injury.
City have a cosy relationship with Girona having loaned several players there last summer. This summer too City have loaned out four players to the Spanish outfit. Aleix Garcia, Douglas Luiz, Marlos Moreno and Pablo Maffeo are all set to help maintain Girona’s status as a top flight club. In fact, Maffeo is joining the Catalonia based side for his second successive stint, having been a part of their successful promotion campaign in the Segunda Division.
After a summer of upheaval, arrivals and international duty, City director of football Txiki Begiristain revealed the trip to Girona presents Guardiola with an extra chance to put his squad through their paces.
“This trip is a great opportunity for Pep to work with his full squad in an intensive training camp,” he said.
“We have had some players away on international duty this summer, which means Pep hasn’t had the chance to work for long with the whole squad.”
City will spend four days in the north-eastern Catalan city before returning to the UK on Thursday evening. City then host Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Monday Night Football – four days later for what would be their first home game of the season.
