Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City must suffer in the soaring heat and told fans in Orlando to bring a towel before Thursday’s clash with Juventus.
Temperatures are expected to rise above 33 degrees in Florida when City meet the Serie A giants to determine who tops the group, with Real Madrid potential opponents in the last 16.
Guardiola’s team have been training 200 miles south in Boca Raton and used to the state’s intense heat but the manager is taking team selection decisions based on the weather this week.
The Catalan surprisingly suggested that he could make another 11 changes for the game and do the same once the knockout stages begin.
‘I advise to the people: bring water, hats and towels and for the necks,’ Guardiola said. ‘The heat is obvious. We can’t change it. We have to be ready to suffer.
‘I’m making the selection tomorrow thinking about the second half because in these conditions we can’t play at our rhythm.’
Pep Guardiola has told fans in Orlando to bring a towel before Thursday’s clash with Juventus
Guardiola’s team have been training 200 miles south in Boca Raton and used to the state’s intense heat
The City boss is taking team selection decisions for the match based on the weather this week
City’s second match of the competition, the 6-0 win over Al Ain, was in Atlanta’s enclosed and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
This climate should be their toughest test so far. ‘It’s better to play at Atlanta’s stadium which is fantastic,’ Guardiola added. ‘But all the teams have to handle it.’
The City boss also took aim at FIFA for slapping Rico Lewis with a three-match ban for serious foul play in the opening match against Wydad AC. Lewis scraped his opponent’s chin with a boot in a 50-50 challenge.
‘If FIFA want to show how strong they are then OK, we’ll accept the three games,’ he said. ‘I didn’t have the honour to talk with Collina on the reason why. I’m pretty sure the referees don’t know Rico. Sometimes we even say (to him) as a defender you have to be more aggressive.’
