Manchester City

With Euro 2024 and the Copa America not finishing until the middle of July, many of the top clubs around the world have had to be patient with regards to key players returning to club duties.

City had as many as five players who reached at least the semi-finals of Euro 2024, none of whom have played much football during the early weeks of the campaign.

John Stones, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake or Phil Foden have all played no more than 45 minutes during the first three Premier League fixtures, while Rodri's first minutes came while representing Spain in their recent UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Despite their absences from the starting lineup, City still came through their opening triple-header with victories over Chelsea, Ipswich Town and West Ham United.

After the triumph over the latter prior to the September international break, Guardiola quipped that pre-season is now over, alluding to having players unavailable but perhaps also indicating that his team top the standings without getting out of second gear.

When asked by Sports Mole about his interpretation of Guardiola's comments, McInerney insisted that Guardiola was merely issuing a public rallying call to his players ahead of the upcoming hectic schedule.

McInerney said: "I think it depends how you read it, and I think there is a relative second language with Guardiola. I know he speaks English well, but you could argue in terms of fitness and pre-season is now over, and where they want to be in terms of fitness.

"He doesn't mean that the games aren't important. I understand where it come from, but Guardiola has always gone out of his way to praise the opposition, praise the other team. I don't think he would sit there and intentionally diss the other sides. I don't know what he would get from that.

"But I think he is being honest in terms of the workload now doubles. It absolutely does. I get why people would be offended by that, and I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you are wrong. I just don't see why he would come out and try to annoy the rest of the Premier League so happily. It wouldn't make sense to me as a strategy, to just wind up everyone.

"It was an honest statement"

He added: "I think Guardiola's words are pretty much for his own team. I don't think he really cares about the league that way. I really think he will say anything to get his team more focused and ready for what is coming ahead.

"I do think that was an honest statement from him in terms of fitness. He's been correct. Rodri isn't there. Foden isn't there. Stones has barely played. Kyle Walker has barely played. It has felt like an extended pre-season.

"If we are being really honest, given how little time players get after tournaments these days, pre-season is a chance to gain fitness and the players are still gaining fitness, so I understand why he would say that.

Manchester City resume Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to Brentford in the Premier League, that being followed by their Champions League opener against Inter Milan four days later.