Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed his worries regarding the insufficient recovery time for his team ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, suggesting that their participation in the Club World Cup could potentially “derail” their efforts.
The City squad concluded the last Premier League season on 25 May and kicked off their Club World Cup journey in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on 18 June.
They are set to clash with Al Hilal in Orlando this Tuesday in the round of 16, and should they progress to the final on 13 July, they would have only a month to prepare for the new league season, which commences on 16 August.
Guardiola remarked that he was uncertain about the toll that the Club World Cup would take on his team and advised journalists to revisit the topic later in the year.
“I might as well say, look, we are in a dire situation. We’re absolutely knackered. The World Cup has really taken its toll on us,” he stated.
“I can’t say for sure, but this is the first time we’ve faced such a situation. We shall see.”
Guardiola indicated that he resonated with the remarks of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who branded the expanded 32-team format, scheduled to occur once every four years during pre-season, as football’s most misguided initiative.
“Jurgen and I have gone head-to-head many times, particularly during UEFA meetings or when we’ve debated the Premier League calendar about enhancing quality by providing managers and players with additional rest,” Guardiola explained.
“So his comments didn’t come as a shock to me … I completely understand his viewpoint, and I would support it as well.”
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