Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to take squad on four-day training camp in Spain hours after opening game at Brighton
The trip to Spain will include a friendly against newly promoted La Liga side Girona who have formed closed links with City in recent years
MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola will take his squad to a training camp in Spain – less than a day after the start of their Premier League campaign.
City face Premier League new boys Brighton at the Amex on Saturday August 12, and will fly out to Catalonia for four days of training that includes a friendly against newly promoted La Liga side Girona.
The Girona game takes place three days after the Brighton game with six days to prepare for their first home fixture against Everton the following Monday evening.
City say it is a chance for Guardiola to work with the full squad as some players missed the pre-season trip to the United States.
City have established links to the Girona in recent years – Pablo Maffeo and Pablo Mari had loan stints with the club last season.
Maffeo has returned to the Catalan side this term in the Spanish top flight, while Girona player have been to Manchester to use the state-of-the-art facilities at the Etihad Campus.
Director of football Txiki Begiristain told mancity.com: "This trip is a great opportunity for Pep to work with his full squad in an intensive training camp.
"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.
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"The game itself promises to be a fantastic spectacle, as Girona finalise their own preparations for their debut campaign in LaLiga."
The trip to Spain is in contrast with reports Pep is not happy with another long-haul trip to the Far East next summer.
City are set to return to China next year – much to Guardiola’s ire.
A year ago the City boss was furious with the conditions during their tour of Far East Asia.
The state of the pitch at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing – when City were meant to play United – was so dire, the game had to be cancelled.