Manchester City’s campaign resumes on Wednesday evening, when we will play Arsenal behind closed doors at the Etihad Stadium, our first game for three months and the first of 10 fixtures in five weeks.
Guardiola, who has been impressed with how his squad maintained their fitness at home admits that, after just three and a half weeks of training, it is difficult to assess where the players are at physically.
It is a unique set of circumstances and something the City boss believes all clubs will have to adapt to in order to manage an intense run of games after limited time on the training pitch.
“We are going to play and we will adapt as quickly as possible,” he said during a video conference with journalists on Tuesday afternoon.
“They [the players] came back really well. We have absolutely no complaints. But the way we are right now, like other clubs, we don’t know.
“Tomorrow we will see the level of the team and from there we will see what we can do better. All the teams in the Premier League have just three and a half weeks.
“We know it isn’t enough, but it is what it is. Everyone suffered this situation, personally and economically, and we have to adapt.
“They are training well, but I don’t know exactly their condition.”
That uncertainty has also left Guardiola with concerns over how injuries may impact his players.
With City due to play every three or four days, the boss revealed he is expecting to make full use of his squad and adopt a rotation policy in order to ease the physical demands on the group.
“Yes [I’m concerned about the injury risk],” he added.
“We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another...we are not ready.
“We have to rotate and use all the players. The players are in naturally good physical condition. You can play two weeks’ holiday - but not three months.
“But we have to start the season.”
Wednesday’s game will see a familiar face in the opposition dugout, as former assistant manager Mikel Arteta returns to the Etihad for the first time as Arsenal boss.
The Spaniard played a crucial role in our success during his two and half years on the coaching staff and Guardiola is looking forward to reuniting with his friend.
However, he remains unconcerned by Arteta’s intimate knowledge of the City set-up, believing it is players rather than managers who make the difference once the whistle blows.
“The game belongs to the players,” said Pep. “Managers can suggest - players make the difference. The game belongs to them.
“There is a responsibility on all of them to say we are here. We know each other and he knows everything about us. It is the same as when he was here.
“He is an incredibly important part of our recent success. He helped us be who we are and that’s why he knows us.
“We are delighted for him to come back. If he is happy, we are happy.”
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