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Pep Guardiola is a manager known for his meticulous attention to detail.

Whether it be tactics, training or team selection, the Manchester City boss leaves no stone unturned in his quest to get the very best out of his side.

Apparently, that includes making sure the ball boys are fully briefed on team tactics.

During City's 5-0 win against Crystal Palace, Guardiola was spotted giving some very detailed instructions to a young ball boy at the Etihad.

(Image: Sportimage) (Image: High Football/Youtube)

The Spaniard clearly had a very specific point he wanted to get across to the young man - and he explained exactly what that was after the match.

"If you analyse 30 minutes in the first half, we were not ready to be there.

"Maybe over 90 minutes you cannot be there all the time. But it was slow.

"If there was a foul, no-one went to take the ball and start to play. There was five, ten seconds before someone goes to take the ball and start to play. When this happens everything is slow.

"So the ball boys were slow, everybody was slow. And we have to create in the game, to provoke the game. And we didn't for most of the time in the first half."

(Image: Alex Livesey) (Image: Alex Livesey)

So, essentially, Guardiola wanted everyone - ball boys included - to speed up the play.

Given that the score went from 1-0 at half-time to 5-0 at full-time, he got what he wanted.

"In the second half, you could see immediately that the team was ready," he continued.

"We started well but after that we forgot that the ball should be moved. And the first half the ball was at the players' feet; it's not good.

"There were too many touches. When that happens everything is slow and our rhythm is slow and concede counter attacks and anything can happen. But in the second half we had tempo, patience and attacked quick."