Pundit issues ‘big’ Man City claim after Pep Guardiola latest – ‘it’s massively important’
Noel Whelan has lauded Man City for taking young players on their mid-season training camp.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds United striker said it is “massively important” for young players’ development to have the opportunity to train with the first team.
As relayed by the Manchester Evening News (6 December), City have taken a 19-man squad to Abu-Dhabi for a week of warm-weather training.
As most of Pep Guardiola’s first team are still at the World Cup, the squad is mostly made up of young players from the Elite Development Squad.
Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Sergio Gomez are among the first-team players that have travelled with the squad that is dominated by youngsters.
Whelan insisted the young players will benefit from the camp.
“I think it is great but I also think it is massively important,” he told Football Insider.
“This is the opportunity you get with the World Cup when you have got some of the best players leaving and they have got to go on this mid-season tour, the door opens for these younger players to go with the squad.
“As a learning curve it would be exceptional for them, to feel part and parcel would be even better. They are learning and playing against and with these other players who are still top quality internationalists.
“It also gives the chance for Pep Guardiola to have another look at them. We have seen how good they have been in Cup competitions when Pep has integrated them into the first team. It is great to see a big club like Man City doing that with their youngsters.“
In other news, a pundit has claimed Man City ‘leading the race’ for star Phil Foden hailed in interview.