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Pep Guardiola wants his Manchester City stars to take warm-weather training break to avoid burn-out from arduous World Cup qualifiers

Etihad chief makes Abu Dhabi his top choice for a New Year escape to recharge and refresh the Premier League leaders

PEP GUARDIOLA is looking to take his Manchester City stars on a warm-weather training break in the New Year, it can be revealed.

The City boss is worried his squad have been travelling huge distances for World Cup qualifiers so far this season.

 Manchester City's players seem likely to have a warm-weather break after regular long trips for World Cup qualifiers and Champions League games this season
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Manchester City's players seem likely to have a warm-weather break after regular long trips for World Cup qualifiers and Champions League games this seasonCredit: Manchester City FC - Getty

Guardiola's men will have also headed out to Napoli and Shakhtar Dometsk in the Champions League group stages by then.

He is already fearful his stars could burn out as they battle for the Premier League title.

And it is understood a short spell in Abu Dhabi would be the preferred option, as a trip can be arranged on short notice.

An Etihad source said: "Pep may look again at some warm-weather training early in the New Year.

 Pep Guardiola hopes a New Year trip to the sun can refresh his Man City players
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Pep Guardiola hopes a New Year trip to the sun can refresh his Man City playersCredit: Rex Features
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Man City aces John Stones and Raheem Sterling helped England to the World Cup finals in Russia next year - including making long trips to teams like LithuaniaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

"The club are conscious a lot of the squad have also been travelling big distances for World Cup qualifiers.

"There are also trips in the Champions League to Napoli and Shakhtar Donetsk to contend with.


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"The backroom staff are keeping a close watch on fatigue and Abu Dhabi would again seem the easiest to arrange."

City flew their squad out to the UAE in February to the Emirates Palace Hotel where they met owner Sheikh Mansour.

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City must hope the hope the form of Kevin De Bruyne - rated by many pundits as the best player in the Prem so far this season - is boosted by a mid-season breakCredit: Reuters
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City boss Pep Guardiola has a big enough squad to juggle players like Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus but still worries his international stars could suffer from burn-outCredit: PA:Press Association


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