Zabaleta reveals Guardiola’s tough stance at Man City

Pablo Zabaleta considers himself very lucky to be working under Pep Guardiola – even if the new Manchester City boss has imposed strict rules when it comes to the players and their phones.

In a bid to bring the squad together, Guardiola has made it more difficult for players to use their mobiles and other handheld devices around the training ground.

Certain areas of the City Football Academy are now free from 3G signal and have been disconnected from the in-house Wi-Fi system under Guardiola’s instructions.

But it would appear that his methods are working as Manchester City sit top of the table, with defeat to Tottenham last time out their first under the Catalan boss.

And you will hear no complaints from Zabaleta, who is delighted to be at the club for this new era under Guardiola.

“He forces us to have breakfast and lunch together at the club. The internet is cut off, we are held incommunicado. We don’t even use 3G,” the full-back told Argentina’s TyC Sports.

“You always want and you dream to be trained by the best coaches, and today I have the opportunity to work with one of the best.

“You learn a lot, especially the way you should live. Beyond the knowledge of his ideas, you see the passion with which he lives for football.”