Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has revealed he intentionally stopped his South America players from returning early after taking part in the Coapa America.
The manager is concerned about their fitness and felt, it was best they relaxed for a month after a long and successful season.
City superstars Fernandinho, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus all won the Copa America title with Brazil while Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi finished in third place.
“They decided whether to come back after three or four weeks off”, Guardiola said in Hong Kong.
“I don’t want them to come back if they are not fit, they are tired and have still not recovered from a tough season.
“Some of them will come on the 29th or 30th, others come on August 3 or 4. It means a lot, i like it”.
The South America players will all be back before City clash with Liverpool in the Community Shield but the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool’s superstar Sadio Mane will miss the clash and probably the opening match of the season.
