Pep Guardiola follows Ange Postecoglou's lead with change to Man City plans

10 December 2023 , 17:49

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Pep Guardiola follows Ange Postecoglou's lead with change to Man City plans

Pep Guardiola copied a ploy used by Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou as Man City returned to form at Luton on Sunday.

After Elijah Adebayo headed the home side into a half-time lead, another harrowing day looked on the cards for the champions having only taken three points from their previous four games. But Bernardo Silva curled in a leveller after the break before Jack Grealish slotted home to ensure a much-needed win for City.

But following a low-key display in the defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday, Guardiola took drastic action over his squad's travel plans. He ordered that his side would not to travel London the day before the game, instead heading to Kenilworth Road by coach the morning of the match.

Normally most Premier League teams travel to away matches the day before and stay in the team hotel together. Tottenham boss Postecoglou has deployed a similar tactic this season. However, his provisions have not been quite as extreme as the one now adopted by Guardiola, with Spurs players only spared from staying at hotels the night before home games.

After the game, Guardiola responded jovially when pressed by reporters. "I would do it everyday (go by bus)," he said. "I love it. I don't like to be in hotels I prefer to sleep at home."

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Guardiola's decision to go by coach will raise eyebrows though, given his comments earlier in the season. The Spaniard was left seething after his squad were unable to fly back from their League Cup tie in Newcastle in September.

Instead, the Treble winners were forced to make the five-and-a-half-hour, 300-mile round trip by bus. Just three days later, they went down to their first league defeat of the season at Wolves.

Top-flight clubs have been criticised for their tendency to travel short distances by aeroplane. Environmental campaigners have raised concerns over the impact short-haul flights have on climate change, with clubs arguing that player welfare also needs to be considered.

Fraser Watson