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

City players held postponed Christmas party after Aston Villa victory

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.