Pep Guardiola believes the players returning from the World Cup are in better condition than the few first-team stars who didn't go to Qatar.
City play their first game in 41 days on Thursday when they face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round and Guardiola will have some of his World Cup stars back in contention.
Rodri, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji returned to training earlier this week and the players who represented England and Portugal are also due back before the fixture against Jurgen Klopp's side.
READ MORE: Guardiola press conference as it happened
Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne played in the friendly against Girona on Saturday so should be in with a good chance of playing, while Sergio Gomez, Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland all played having not been involved in the World Cup.
But Guardiola admits that quartet have lost a little sharpness during the break, an issue that isn't going to affect those who have been at the World Cup.
"I had a feeling that the players in the World Cup are in a better condition than the players who are here, Sergio, Cole, Riyad, Erling, they miss a little bit, the players who didn't go lack the rhythm. Those coming back have competed and trained every day, they keep the rhythm, and we had holidays," said Guardiola.
"Step by step people come back, today come back six players. First time, we are happy they are back, in general play really well. They play a unique experience. Let them try to come back as soon as possible. Work for the team and maybe four years they live another experience."
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