Unsocial network: Guardiola warns City stars of social media dangers

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claims the rise of social media is a significant threat to the fragile relationship between managers and players.

Jose Mourinho's strained relations with Paul Pogba at Manchester United came under the spotlight again this week after posts placed on Instagram by the controversial France star.

Across Manchester, Guardiola has his own issues with social media and off-field behaviour after admitting he had to remind Benjamin Mendy of his responsibilities when the City defender arrived late for treatment to an injury on Sunday.

Mendy, who has now missed City's last four games, has a bruised metatarsal in his foot, yet the France international posted photographs of himself late on Saturday at Anthony Joshua's title fight at Wembley in London.

Guardiola confirmed he had no problem with Mendy travelling to London for the bout despite his injury.

But the Spaniard is clearly frustrated by Mendy's absence after he missed nearly all of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

"I don't know (when he will return). I think soon, but I don't know," Guardiola said.

"When a guy comes here and is injured for seven months or arrives here and plays two or three games and after one month is injured it's always a problem.

"It's always a problem to be involved in the way we want to play and the meetings and correcting mistakes. That's why it's so important. Hopefully this injury can be the last."
"Now everybody outside knows what happens inside, so we have to adapt. Human beings are the same. It was the same before."
- 'I spoke with him'
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"But I have no problem (going to London). Boxing is so important in England. In Spain nobody cares."