Vinicius Jr. and his staff had prepared in detail for the Ballon d’Or trip, with around 30 companions due to travel. Some of his guests had travelled from Brazil. An after-party was also planned for the event on Monday.

Nike had prepared special boots to celebrate a Ballon d’Or victory for Vinicius Jr. They had also organised an event in Madrid which the player, people close to him and influencers were due to attend.

Man City are open to Erik ten Hag visiting for any future advice or support, says Pep Guardiola.

Pep: “Any time! Seriously! Always we are open, but I think it’s not going to happen. But I know his agent a little bit, so the relation is there, no problem for me, for us.” 🩵

Kevin De Bruyne's injury has been more complicated than first expected, admits Pep Guardiola, who says he thought he would be back in action for Man City quicker.

Pep: “That’s why I’m not a doctor.”

On when Kevin De Bruyne will return: “I'd like to tell you, especially I'd like to know, but I don’t. He feels better, can train, but the level we need for competition, when he kicks the ball he still has pain... Kevin has to feel good to express his huge talent.”

Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne: “He’s feeling better but not the best. If these guys don’t come back as quick as possible, we will struggle. We cannot sustain with just 14, 15 players for the season... Hopefully it can happen after the international break.”

Pep Guardiola on John Stones at striker: “No… After nine years, I’m not a funny guy, I know that. But some jokes you have to get it! Of course, he can play a few minutes [there], but as a striker from the beginning, I don’t want to ruin his career!”💀😂

Pep Guardiola on his best options at striker for Man City without Erling Haaland: “I don’t have much, but some ideas I have. We will see, we will see tomorrow.”

Pep Guardiola: “I have the feeling that if Man United is thinking about him [Ruben Amorim] it’s because he’s good. United don’t appoint managers that don’t meet that level. All the managers they’ve had in the last seven years, we cannot say are not able to lead Man United.”

“The experience against Ruben’s Sporting one or two seasons ago was really, really good. I spoke with Matheus Nunes and he spoke highly. This season he’s unbeaten winning all of the games in the league, and the UCL has the same points with us.”

On Ruben Amorim's 'quick rise' in football: “What's the problem? I started in Barcelona at 37 from the fourth division. Knowledge is knowledge. If you're able, it doesn’t matter. For that reason, Lamine Yamal could not play at 17, right? He has to wait till 24.”

Pep Guardiola: “Imagine in any sport, in basketball and the Golden State Warriors playing without Stephen Curry, or Barcelona in his prime playing without Messi... They should be less strong. It’s the same with Man City! Rodri is irreplaceable, but we have to move on.”

Pep Guardiola on life without Rodri: “We're less strong. With him, we're better... And with Kevin [De Bruyne], and Kyle Walker, and Oscar [Bobb], all the people with long injuries. But now he has to recover well for next season and we have to handle game by game, try to win.”

On replacing Rodri: “[Mateo] Kova is playing there and [Ilkay] Gundo is playing there - they were exceptional! And one day we’ll play Manu [Akanji], we’ll play John [Stones] in that position. And I know they will play good. So it’s what we have to do.”

Pep Guardiola on youth players vs. Tottenham: “There is someone, yeah, but we play Spurs. Coming from defeat, I know what happens mentally for the managers, players, against Man City - sorry to tell you again - the last four Premier Leagues in a row, and they will be the best.”

“Carabao Cup we won four in a row, always I use first rounds playing guys who didn’t play regularly. When I arrive in the semi-finals, I take it seriously this competition. Always I take it seriously, but it’s, 'OK we’re going to win it [from the semi-finals].”

Pep Guardiola on youth players vs. Tottenham: “There is someone, yeah, but we play Spurs. Coming from defeat, I know what happens mentally for the managers, players, against Man City - sorry to tell you again - the last four Premier Leagues in a row, and they will be the best.”

“Carabao Cup we won four in a row, always I use first rounds playing guys who didn’t play regularly. When I arrive in the semi-finals, I take it seriously this competition. Always I take it seriously, but it’s, 'OK we’re going to win it [from the semi-finals].”

Pep Guardiola: “We have a problem; a lot of injured players. I cannot rotate much and I don’t want to put too much pressure on young, young players in this stage, against this opponent [@Tottenhm], the way they play. I have to make a mix, split minutes, 45 minutes, 45 minutes.”

“We'll arrive [back from Tottenham] at 2 or 3AM. Friday morning we travel to Bournemouth - they have all week, out of the Carabao Cup, a really, really intense game, the way they play, how good they are… After travel to Lisbon for three days.”

A trip to the capital for the Carabao Cup 💫

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (18) has been included in the Man City first-team squad for tonight's Carabao Cup fourth round tie vs. @Tottenhm.