LONDON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is lamenting the problems this summer's World Cup finals have caused to his pre-season preparations, but admits he is not the only coach put in a difficult situation by missing players.
The Premier League champions are currently without a host of first team players, such as Vincent Kompany, Fabian Delph, John Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Kun Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne, as they are still on holiday following their exploits in Russia.
It was perhaps no surprise to see them lose their two opening games in the International Champions Cup to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool 1-0 and 2-1.
Speaking ahead of his side's next game, which is against his former club, Bayern Munich, Guardiola admitted that being without so many players was "not the easiest situation for any manager, not just for me."
"I would prefer (for the squad) to be all together but I think for Niko Kovac (the Bayern coach) or for the other managers it's the same, the calendar is the calendar and we will have to adapt. We would prefer for players to come back as soon as possible but it is not possible," commented Guardiola.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo tried to look on the positive side, noting that a host of young players, such as teenage striker Phil Foden have gotten a chance to prove themselves.
"We have young guys that have a lot of potential. I think we have to give them that extra push so that they take advantage of this opportunity because it's the door they have for the future," he said.
