Manchester City confirm last-minute Pep Guardiola replacement for Crystal Palace press conference | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola will not be present for pre-match press conference duties on Friday afternoon, Manchester City have confirmed.

City were originally due for a fairly standard media commitment ahead of their Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, but Guardiola’s unexpected unavailability has produced a rare alteration behind the scenes.

The Catalan coach remains a central figure in all matchday preparation, yet even minor disruptions tend to generate interest among supporters given the ongoing scrutiny around Pep Guardiola’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium.

The development comes during a period of significant structural change within Guardiola’s backroom team, after Pepijn Lijnders settled into the City set-up following a switch to the club in the summer, while legend Kolo Toure was promoted into the first-team ahead of pre-season.

Both appointments were part of Manchester City’s broader strategy to future-proof Guardiola’s support network and ensure continuity in day-to-day operations, whilst also forming a refresh off the back of a difficult last campaign.

Now, as reported by the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, Pep Guardiola will miss City’s pre-Crystal Palace press conference at the City Football Academy on Friday with a ‘personal issue’, but will take the team as expected for the match at Selhurst Park.

Stepping in for the Catalan coach in front of the media will be Manchester City’s recently-promoted assistant coach and former defender Kolo Toure – his first action in front of the press since being promoted into the first-team set-up over the summer.

MailSport’s Jack Gaughan further highlights that Manchester City assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders was also unavailable for media duties ahead of the trip to South London due to a scheduled day off.

Kolo Toure’s appearance is likely to be well-received, with the former defender a popular figure and part of the club’s wider effort to allow new voices to develop within the senior coaching structure.

His increasing visibility is also consistent with Manchester City’s broader philosophy formed over the course of the summer in empowering the next line of leaders while Pep Guardiola maintains overall control.

More broadly, this brief disruption is unlikely to impact preparations for Selhurst Park, and should absences arise later in the campaign, City now have multiple senior coaches positioned to handle external duties, ensuring continuity across all fronts.