Manchester City made their impact on New York in the second leg of their pre-season tour, with Pep Guardiola, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland the star attractions
Pep Guardiola is in the final year of his Manchester City contract and could be forgiven for treating this summer’s trip to the United States as a farewell tour.
Back in New York, where he spent a year’s sabbatical after leaving Barcelona, Guardiola threw himself into City’s promotional activities as they closed down a busy Manhattan block off Fifth Avenue on Thursday, with Jack Grealish shooting some hoops before getting on the decks as DJ at the downtown block party.
There was a basketball theme as Guardiola was asked about his friendship with Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. The City chief watched a game in Boston over the summer and met up with Mazzulla, who had visited Manchester in February. Mazzulla was in North Carolina to see City’s opening friendly on Tuesday night with the pair catching up in Chapel Hill.
Speaking at the PUMA block party, Guardiola said he talked tactics with Mazzulla before a recent finals game for the Celtics. “We were privileged because a few days before the final it was nice to listen to the game plan,” the City chief said.
“We were talking about to control things. It was really nice. There are similarities between the games. It’s the highest competition: the NBA finals are the best of every player. It was really cool to be there and listen.
“[Coaching] is easy, they are human beings – treat them normally. They have skills, play well, the rest they are normal. We’re together for 11 months, more than our family and friends.”
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