Guardiola excited to play at Atlanta's high-tech stadium as other teams battle heat and humidity

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, AHEAD OF CLUB WORLD CUP GROUP G MATCH AGAINST AL-AIN

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SHOWS: ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 21, 2025) (FIFA/DAZN - See restrictions)

1. MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING:

"No, we (will) not complain. I took a look before the press conference and wow, this is something incredible this stadium. I don’t know the owners and the chairmen and the shareholders and the guy who invest(ed) in this magnificent, magnificent building, stadium. I would say it’s unbelievable. Tomorrow we’ll play in nice conditions, you know? But every team, every player, every manager is in the dugout complain(ing) about the heat (and) humidity. So for the new World Cup, for the next World Cup, is going to happen here, the players will know already, (it) will be tough because the conditions are not easy and here is much better."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, ON BALLON-D'OR WINNING MIDFIELDER, RODRI'S, INJURY, SAYING:

"He’s getting better. So you cannot forget it’s almost nine months, since the sad day, what happened, he was injured between ten and twelve months. So it’s a long, long injury. That’s why he’s getting better. And as much he can play 20 minutes, 30 minutes at a time. So will be good. I know he wants to play, he wants to help and wants to be there but what we want is to protect him and feel good in his knee. And we believe right now is the minutes that he played last game and hopefully tomorrow and hopefully one day soon can play from the beginning."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING:

"Many, many, many good things in all history happen in football, many, many good things come from South America. You know from Brazil, especially Brazil, Argentina, from Colombia…Uruguay, I would say all the countries, many, many good things in football. The greatest players come from there, and after most of them come to Europe because the opportunities economically, it's prestigious and everything it’s, you know, obviously it’s so incredibly high. But I love, you know, in this tournament when you play South American teams, play with Europe(ans), and another continents and how they challenge, how you see how they compete, how you see…I admire how they defend. I (saw) Boca Juniors how every single ball is like, wow, the end of the world. And, you know, it’s different styles, different ways…it’s really, really good. That is (what it’s) all about. And yeah, I like that every game is tough, really, really tough. Except one or two, all the games are tight, and the people say, ‘Ah, surprise, a European team lose’. Oh, yeah, welcome to the real world, my friends. Welcome to the world. You look like you are just looking (at) your belly, and you are not watching what happens, because they are good. And I like, you know? And that is what it is. So Brazil six (ACTUALLY FIVE) World Cups. Look at the last three, four or five years, Argentina, you know, controlling football, winning World Cup, Copa Americas, and (Lionel) Messi and his partners. So, why should (we) not pay attention (to) how good they are?"

7. GUARDIOLA LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE

STORY: Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola spoke of his excitement to play Al-Ain in the Club World Cup at Atlanta's high-tech Mercedes-Benz stadium.

While some European clubs have been struggling to adapt to the conditions in the United States this summer, Atalanta's stadium boasts a retractable roof and air conditioning to keep players, and coaches, cool.

"I took a look before the press conference and wow, this stadium is incredible," Guardiola told the media on Saturday (June 21).

"Every team, every player, every manager is in the dugout complaining about the heat and humidity but tomorrow we’ll play in nice conditions," Guardiola added as City prepare to take on 2024 Asian champions Al-Ain in their second group match.

Having secured all three points in their opener against Morocco's Wydad, Emirati-owned City can book their spot in the knockout stages of the inaugural 32-team intercontinental tournament against the side from Abu Dhabi.

Should Juventus win or draw against 2022 African Champions Wydad in Sunday's earlier Group G fixture, victory for Guardiola's men would see them advance with a game to spare.

(Production: Conal Quin)