Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave permission for players’ party with Instagram models

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Pep Guardiola has no issues with the off-field activities of his Manchester City players and gave them permission for last weekend’s party.

The majority of City’s first team squad attended a postponed Christmas party in Salford Quays after their 6-1 win over Aston Villa last Sunday.

The get-together made headlines due to the attendance of a large group of Instagram models from Italy, who were flown in by a third party.

Guardiola encourages his players to socialise together outside of the club and saw no problem with their revelry.

“I think I knew [about] it,” he said when asked about the party. “When they have time, they make a lot of times dinners together, with the staff. They did it many times anyway.

“And I like it when they are together outside here, they do it sometimes at home, sometimes in a restaurant as was the case. It was nice.”

City did not hold a festive party around the bust Christmas period after celebrations led to a downturn in form the previous year.

Guardiola was unhappy with some of his players for staying out late in December 2018, and back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Leicester followed.

Palace return to the Etihad for the first time this weekend, with City looking to secure a tenth victory in 11 games.