The Premier League champions have finished a two-week pre-season tour of the United States of America, rounding it off with Saturday night’s 4-2 victory over Chelsea in Ohio.
However, many of our first team stars were not on the trip after appearing at this summer’s European Championships and Copa America
City 4-2 Chelsea | Extended highlights
With the Community Shield in just six days and the new league campaign a week later, Guardiola believes his players’ hunger to win will be crucial while they are still getting up to the required fitness standard after their holidays.
“Now the real preparation with an important already game, the season starting in seven days, simple as that,” he said in his post-match press conference in Ohio.
“70% of the team didn’t take one training session with us yet but we’re nine years together so in terms of that we know each other quite well.
“It’s the mentality and desire to help the team and resilience to suffer because we aren’t in our best condition will dictate the first month of the season.
“That’s why mainly we arrive here, come back everyone is healthy, safe.
“It’s happened and we showed good spirit in all the games against tough opponents which is really good. I’m really pleased for that.”
Watch the full press conference above...
