By Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:38 BST, 16 April 2019 | Updated: 22:38 BST, 16 April 2019
View
comments
A different way of passing the time is emerging inside the Manchester City dressing room as Pep Guardiola's players hunt for fresh ways to relax.
Benjamin Mendy has introduced the South American dice game, Perudo, to his team-mates and four new boxes arrived at the City Football Academy this week.
A hit with France's World Cup winners last summer, Perudo encourages high-risk strategies and celebrates the art of bluffing. Both are traits their manager revels in deploying — particularly in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City host Tottenham twice in four season-defining days this week
Kidology was very much at play before a tantalising double-header with Tottenham, as he sarcastically agreed that not lifting the Champions League would be considered a failure.
What he could not dispute is that City need to roll the dice this week. Guardiola described the two home games against Spurs as season-defining. And they have to win them both — on Wednesday night in the Champions League second leg and on Saturday in the league — if a hugely promising campaign is not destined to fall flat.
Two wins and the prospect of an historic Quadruple would be solidified by Saturday afternoon. Equally, City's season might go up in smoke with draws or defeats. The FA Cup and League Cup double would be scant consolation.
Guardiola faced the media on the eve of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Spurs
'If we don't win these games we'll be out of two competitions,' said Guardiola. 'They are absolute finals for us. I've had that feeling from weeks ago. But I've said many times that the Premier League is the most important.'
The message coming from his players is that the Quadruple is firmly in their thoughts. John Stones talked up the squad's chances, saying: 'We're still on for the Quadruple and that's the dream we want to achieve. We're fighting for it every day. We've got to trust it brings the best out of us.
'We've got to enjoy the pressure of fighting for the titles and these big games. You get the best out of yourselves when you are under that scrutiny and you find who you are as a player and the players around you. It is a privileged position to be in and we have got to take every opportunity.'
For that to come to fruition,
