Juanma Lillo confirms Pep Guardiola plans for Man City matches

Manchester City will take on Sheffield United and Fulham but Pep Guardiola will not be on the touchline

Pep Guardiola will be taking charge of Manchester City for the next two games despite his absence.

Guardiola underwent emergency back surgery this week and is staying in Barcelona until after the international break to continue his recovery. The manager will miss the matches against Sheffield United and Fulham but is expected to return for the visit of Nottingham Forest in September.

Juanma Lillo, who recently returned as an assistant after a year as a head coach in Qatar, is taking temporary charge of the team and will also lead the pre-match messages at Bramall Lane. However, the coach insists that this is the way because it is what Guardiola wants and says that everything will go through him.

"Of course! Pep is always there," he said. "The contact is continuous - telephone, video call, everything.

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"He is watching Sheffield United right now. His health is what matters but that doesn't stop him being who he is. He is fully focused on the team and the match.

"There is still a few training sessions and sometimes it's about the feeling you have. With regards to the rival, the team. Pep has been doing his work and we will talk about it. Whatever he will say, whatever the input, that's what will happen."

"He is telling us the surgery has been successful, his recovery has to take the necessary time. He feels fine. I'm happy to see him going correctly."