5 days ago
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Manchester City travelled to Palermo but will not make it in time for Pep Guardiola's press conference after setting off later than planned
Manchester City left for Palermo later than planned to delay Pep Guardiola's press conference ahead of their City Football Group friendly. The Blues boss was due to speak in the Sicilian capital at 6.45pm local time but the club have had to change plans after not being able to set off when they were expecting to.
There is not thought to be any issue with the squad travelling over but they will not make it in time for the original press conference, with Erling Haaland still spotting planes at Manchester Airport after 4pm. When City do arrive, it will be with a streamlined squad from the one that trained on Tuesday in front of fans at the City Are Back event.
James McAtee, Jack Grealish and Stefan Ortega have all been left out of the travelling squad; Ortega's omission reflects the arrival of James Trafford, while the other two were left out of the Club World Cup squad with their futures lying away from the Etihad.
City are travelling with just two keepers - Trafford and Ederson - after summer signing Marcus Bettinelli picked up an injury. Ortega trained on Tuesday but there was no sign of former Fulham and Chelsea stopper Bettinelli; Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips remain injured, although Phillips is not part of City's plans anyway.
Four players have been left at home so as not to take any risks with their fitness. One of those is Rodri, who took part in Tuesday's session but - as the Manchester Evening News reported this week - has been doing plenty of individual training away from the group as City look to make sure he is fit for Wolves next weekend without overloading him after his serious injury last season.
Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Claudio Echeverri are all left at home as well. Foden and Gvardiol will be looking to start at Wolves, although Echeverri's future is still unknown amid loan interest and too many non-homegrown players for City to register in their Champions League squad.
Guardiola may give updates on some or all of those players over the course of the friendly with Palermo. City take on their fellow City Football Group side in a friendly on Saturday as they continue their preparations for the start of the Premier League.
Next Saturday they head to Wolves, where Rayan Ait-Nouri could make his debut against his former club.
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