Pep Guardiola Rejects Chance to Go to Qatar, Outlines Plans for World Cup Break

Pep Guardiola Rejects Chance to Go to Qatar, Outlines Plans for World Cup Break

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:15 PM
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  • Pep Guardiola has disclosed that he will treat his players who won't be going to the World Cup
  • Guardiola had the opportunity to go to Qatar and scout for talent, but he has opted to remain in Manchester
  • The four-time Premier League winner will then fly out to the United Arab Emirates, the home of City's owner Sheikh Mansoor

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed that he has declined an opportunity to go and watch the World Cup in person in Qatar.

Guardiola has instead outlined plans of how he will conduct training sessions with his players who won't be going to the World Cup.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, World Cup, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez, United Arab Emirates
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium on November 2nd. Photo by Silvestre Szpylma.
Source: Getty Images

Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez headline the high-profile players who will remain behind as the world switches its attention to Qatar.

Guardiola has now disclosed that the group will have a mini-break before going to the United Arab Emirates for warm training. UAE is the home of Sheikh Mansour, the owner of the club.

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Red wine

The Spanish Head Coach has turned down the opportunity to go and scout talent in Qatar. He will remain in Manchester and watch the games while sipping red wine.

"The best way to enjoy the World Cup matches is at home with red wine. We will have one or two weeks off and then we will work here, maybe go to Abu Dhabi, maybe organise a friendly game," as quoted by the Sun.

Guardiola's country of origin, Spain, is an outside frontrunner for the World Cup title. They face Germany, Costa Rica and Japan in the group stage.

EPL clubs decline Argentina's request to release players

Sports Brief had earlier reported that the Argentina national football team is set to be handed a big blow as Premier League clubs plan to reject their request to release their players early.

Argentina's football association had requested that their players be exempted from the last round of matches between November 12 and November 13.

However, FIFA has directed that clubs must release all the players called up for international duty by November 14. National teams can, therefore, not force players to join training camps earlier than the set date.

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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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