For Manchester City, this next month or so is normally the heart of the season, the time when they find top gear and turn their rivals into dust. But this season, 16 of their players are in Qatar and just when they are usually making mincemeat of all comers, the campaign is on hold.
It’s a new challenge for every team but it hasn’t escaped the notice of Pep Guardiola and his players that the World Cup is taking place in what is often a crucial phase of the season for them.
To try and mitigate the six-week break, Guardiola and his squad spoke about starting quickly this season, of getting out of the blocks quicker, but it’s not been hugely successful.
