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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Pep Guardiola names the new Man City player who has surprised him most in training

Pep Guardiola expects his new Manchester City signings to hit the ground running quickly ahead of the Community Shield clash with Liverpool on Saturday.

City have signed Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega this summer to refresh the squad, and Guardiola feels the new options won't take long to settle in to the Blues' demanding playing style after seeing them all in action in training and in the two pre-season friendlies so far.

But while all attention will be on Haaland, Guardiola said it was goalkeeper Ortega, signed on a free transfer to replace the outgoing Zack Steffen, who has made the biggest impression in training so far.

ALSO READ: Aymeric Laporte injury blow for Man City confirmed by Pep Guardiola

He said: "Hopefully not [they won't need time], as soon they settle the better. In my feeling they won't take time. Stefan surprises us a lot in all aspects on the ball and build-up, Kalvin knows the Premier League perfectly. The way they settle in the few games we play, I think they will settle."

As well as the new arrivals, City have sold Raheem Sterling, Aleks Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, while captain Fernandinho left at the end of his contract. Guardiola repeated his belief that he was sad to see those players leave, and was asked whether the supposed reset this summer was needed.

"Sometimes the transfer market dictates what you need to do," he said, after confirming City are still in the market for a new left-back.

"The first season we tried to loan and sell players we couldn't sell anyone. This season, we still have 14, 15 days and it's already done. You want to do things, it depends on the situations and they happen quicker than you expect.

"Sometimes [it's good to change the squad], but if the three players, plus many important academy players we sold, if they stayed we'd be incredibly happy. We know each other, we continue to do what we have done. The intention in the market dictates your decisions, the wishes for the club or players. Sometimes the player wants something, the club wants something, for both sides, the other side, when this happens we make a replacement and they are here.

"Normally a project for six, seven years, you are not seven years with the same people. When I arrived just Kevin is still here. Important is the stability of the club. The guys who have left, not just Aleks, Raheem, Gabriel, all the players have made incredible contribution to get us to finals."

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