The cancellation of Mondays Manchester derby in Beijing was a blow to Pep Guardiolas pre-season plans, but the Manchester City boss has been praised for the initial impact he has had on his squad by pundits, players and observers alike. But how has Guardiolas pre-season training differed from what Manuel Pellegrini and his coaching staff did last summer?The Spaniard is renowned for doing things his own way, so, with the help of Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper, former Man City player and club ambassador Mike Summerbee, and two members of the current first-team, we take a look at Guardiolas approach to pre-season… Type of trainingGuardiola wants his Manchester City team to be leaner and meaner so they can keep up with the demands of the pressing football he wants them to play, says Cooper, who is keeping a close eye on the clubs pre-season preparations, which began on July 6. A lot of the players have lost significant amounts of weight - including those who looked like they didnt need to lose any!However, while some managers favour sending their players on long, hard running drills to get them back into shape, Guardiola takes a different approach. Author Marti Perarnau, in Pep Confidential, his book about Guardiolas first season in charge of Bayern Munich, wrote about players returning from the off season to a mountain of footballs and, from day one, Citys squad have been doing work with the ball. Man Citys players have been training with the ball since day one of pre-season But that does not mean the players have been getting off lightly. While Guardiola has given his players time off, there have been plenty of double sessions too, and midfielder Fabian Delph has spoken of how intense the training days have been.The intensity has gone through the roof, he said. Its so intense - high pressing, very energetic. Its been tough but its been very, very good.Summerbee, who won the league title, FA Cup and League Cup with City in consecutive years from 1967/68, has been an impressed onlooker and reckons Guardiolas methods will pay off when the season begins.Ive watched training three or four times and it is very high tempo, he said. Ive been very, very impressed. Theyre pressing all the time. Its very intensive, very aggressive, something the game of football in England needs.Theres only one way you can go when you train as hard as that and work as hard as that and thats to be successful. Guardiola has introduced more stretching sessions at Manchester City Another element Guardiola has added to Citys training regime is increased stretching time. Manchester City players picked up a combined total of 81 injuries in 2015/16, according to physioroom.com, and it is an area Guardiola is keen to address. Hes anxious to cut the number of injuries that City suffered last season, explains Cooper. The players have been doing a lot more stretching before and after sessions than they previously did.Tactics Guardiola gives instructions to Yaya Toure against Bayern Munich Manchester City fans got a hint of how their team may shape up this season in last weeks friendly with Bayern Munich.City were sent out in a 4-2-3-1 formation, set about building attacks slowly from the back before accelerating their play in the final third and aimed to win the ball back quickly high up the field when Bayern were in possession.I am so happy, we did many things we spoke about well and in the right moment, Guardiola said after the 1-0 defeat. In the second half we played with a little more intensity and Im really satisfied with what we did because weve only been together for two weeks. I am so happy, we did many things we spoke about well and in the right moment. Pep Guardiola on Man Citys display against Bayern Munich The approach appears to have been received warmly by the players. Everybody seems to be pressing their claims and the new systems of play have been very interesting, said Delph.Defender Gael Clichy, meanwhile, has spoken of Guardiolas eagerness to protect his side against the threat of counter-attacks.What he wants is for his team to play offensive football and for that he wants the full-backs to support - without getting beaten when we lose the ball, said the Frenchman. Thats something new as before we were quite open and if you look at our games from last year we were conceding a lot of goals on the counter-attack because we were an offensive team and open. Sergio Aguero and the Manchester City squad have been in China in pre-season I guess hes trying to make us as offensive as previous years but just as solid at the back. He doesnt want the onus to just be on the back four to defend but its the responsibility of the whole team to get the ball back quickly when we lose it.Its clear that, as well as the physical preparation for the upcoming season, Guardiola is eager to stamp his own style of play on his new squad.Relationship with players Guardiolas methods have so far proved popular with his players Given his success as a manager, Guardiola unsurprisingly commands respect from his playing staff but it appears the former Barcelona boss has also put his man management skills to use in Manchester.So far, he has been unbelievable with everyone, enthused Delph. From day one, he knew everybodys name. He makes you feel good about yourself and makes you want to do well and push on. He seems like hes been wanting to come to the Premier League to showcase his skills for some time and Im really excited to have him here now. He makes you feel good about yourself and makes you want to do well and push on. Fabian Delph on Pep Guardiola Guardiolas personal touch has also impressed Summerbee. He does it the right way, said the former winger. The way he is with the players, when someone does something good he always says well done, which is great. Hes very personal with people.The challenge for Guardiola will be maintaining that intensity, excitement and good feeling throughout his debut season in England. Sky Sports Fantasy Football Pick your team here, create a league and let the mind games begin! Also See: VOTE: Best PL home kit 2016/17 Nolito: I snubbed Barca for City International Champions Cup guide Power of Pep impresses Delph Clearance NCAA Jerseys . Ramirez is still hitting behind Puig, only now they are in the third and fourth spots, and the change is starting to generate positive results for manager Don Mattingly. Cheap Football NCAA Jerseys . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. 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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers released linebacker LaMarr Woodley on Tuesday, with a post-June 1 designation to save money under the salary cap and signed free agent safety Mike Mitchell from the Carolina Panthers. Mitchell first announced on Twitter that he has signed with the Steelers and his agent Brian Hamilton confirmed the signing to The Associated Press. Financial terms were not released. The Steelers have not announced the addition of Mitchell. "First I have to thank God for this blessing and Mr. Rooney and the Steelers organization for such a great opportunity!" Mitchell wrote on Twitter. Mitchell started 14 games last season for the Carolina Panthers and had 66 tackles, four interceptions, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the leagues second-ranked defence. Mitchell came to Carolina after four seasons with the Oakland Raiders, mostly in a reserve role. The 6-foot, 210-pound Mitchell brought an attitude to the Carolina defence, regularly collecting personal fouls and league-imposed fines for late hits. By releasing Woodley with a post-June 1 designation, the Steelers free up about $8 million in salary cap space in 2014. The money saved will likely go toward signing the teams selections in the NFL draft in May. Woodley will, however, count $8.5 millionn against the teams cap number in 2015.dddddddddddd Selected by the Steelers in the second round (46th overall) of the 2007 draft out of Michigan, Woodley signed a six-year, $61.5 million contract in 2011, but has struggled to remain healthy. He missed at least three games in each of the last three seasons as hamstring and other lower body issues kept him sidelined for long stretches. The turning point came in a 25-17 win over New England on Oct. 30, 2011. Woodley sacked Tom Brady twice in that game, but also left with a strained hamstring. He had nine sacks at the time of the injury, played in two games the rest of the way and could never seem to rediscover the productivity that made Woodley and James Harrison one of the most feared outside linebacker combinations in the league. Woodley, 29, failed to get a sack after Oct. 20 last year and ended the season on injured reserve. While Woodley sat with calf problems, Jason Worilds thrived. He led Pittsburgh with eight sacks and the Steelers made the fifth-year linebacker their transition player. Woodley started 81 of 94 games during the regular season as well as seven of eight post-season games in his seven years with Pittsburgh. He made the Pro Bowl and selected second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 2009. ' ' '