Manchester, August 1 — Manchester City, the reigning English Premier League champions, are facing challenges in their pre-season preparations due to the absence of key players. Following the Euro Championship, many of the team's footballers are still on holiday, resulting in an understrength squad for the pre-season matches.

Pep Guardiola's side has played three matches so far, suffering defeats in all against Celtic, AC Milan, and Barcelona. Despite the presence of star striker Erling Haaland, Guardiola has opted to use the Norwegian sparingly, bringing him on only in the second half of matches. Haaland, who is nursing a minor muscle injury, has been advised to limit his playing time to prevent further issues.

Guardiola emphasized the need for caution with Haaland, noting, "No matter how big or small the muscle injury is, it cannot be taken as a risk. We don't want to lose Haaland for three weeks, which could be a big threat for the team, especially with 60-70 percent of the squad players still on vacation."

With the majority of the squad unavailable, City’s performance on the field has been impacted. The team's current form raises concerns as they prepare for the upcoming season, with key fixtures on the horizon. Manchester City is set to face Manchester United in the Community Shield on August 10, followed by the start of their Premier League title defense against Chelsea on August 18.

As the team works towards regaining full strength, Guardiola's primary focus will be on managing player fitness and ensuring a smooth integration of returning players into the squad.