Pep Guardiola credits Manchester City nutritionists for supporting Muslim stars through Ramadan fasting | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has provided insight into how the club’s contingent of Muslim players are coping with the demands of fasting during Ramadan.

City signed Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki in 2025 as part of a squad evolution spearheaded by former director of football Txiki Begiristain and his replacement Hugo Viana.

The Blues remain at a nascent stage of their transition under Viana but despite several ups and downs this season, Guardiola and co are still in the running for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies.

Arsenal’s recent blip in Premier League form has allowed Manchester City to reduce the gap between first and second in the table, with Guardiola’s side also set to face off against the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final on March 22.

City progressed to the FA Cup fifth round a few weeks after securing a 2-0 fourth round win over Salford City, having also drawn Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Friday.

The games are coming thick and fast for City in the business end of the season and the stakes are as high as they get for executives at the Etihad Stadium, who added Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi to the first-team ranks in January and are set to progress on their squad revamp this summer.

Guardiola has opted against commenting on City’s chances in the title race when probed on the subject in recent weeks, with the Blues entering this weekend’s round of games five points adrift of the Gunners having played a game less.

However, as City search for a sixth consecutive triumph in all competitions against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday evening, every game is a must-win between now and the end of the season for the eight-time Premier League champions.

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked how Manchester City’s Muslim stars observing Ramadan are coping with the demands of Islamic month of fasting.

“They follow these religious traditions and of course we have good nutritionists and they adapt to what the team needs,” said Guardiola. “I think they’re used to it, they’re not young, they’re used to many, many years playing in this period.”

On whether fasting times during Ramadan will be considered for selection against Leeds United this weekend, Guardiola added: “No, they are well taken care (of) and they know how to handle these situations.”

Guardiola gave his players three days off after last week’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United and after a second successive midweek devoid of action, City’s players will be well rested as they embark upon the final stretches of what has been a marathon of a campaign.