Pep Guardiola Warns of Heat Struggles Ahead of Man City vs Juventus Clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team must be prepared to “suffer” in the Florida heat as they face Juventus in their final Club World Cup Group G match. With both teams already qualified for the last 16, Thursday’s clash in Orlando will decide who tops the group.

“In these conditions, we can’t play at our rhythm,” Guardiola said. “We have to be ready to suffer.”

Temperatures are expected to reach 33°C (91°F) at Camping World Stadium, prompting Guardiola to plan multiple second-half substitutions to manage player fatigue.

Squad Rotation and Injury Concerns

Guardiola confirmed that Rico Lewis is suspended and Claudio Echeverri is out with an ankle injury that could sideline him for the rest of the tournament. The manager has rotated his squad throughout the group stage and is expected to do so again.

“We’ll play new players and make changes in the second half,” he said.

A viral video of Guardiola playing beach football with players near the team’s base in Boca Raton highlighted his efforts to balance training with recovery after a long season.

Managing Mental and Physical Load

Guardiola emphasized the importance of mental recovery, allowing players to relax between sessions. “If they want to play golf, go to the pool, be with their families—that’s fine. We have 11 months ahead of us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Juventus manager Igor Tudor also hinted at lineup changes but stressed his team’s intent to win. “We want to play a serious game and win,” Tudor said, acknowledging the challenge of facing “the best coach in the world.”