Man City boss Pep Guardiola accuses the FA and Premier League of undermining Man City in an extraordinary rant at the weekend.
He lodged a complaint against the FA and Premier League, accusing them of sabotaging Manchester City’s attempt to achieve the Treble once again.
This came prior to his team’s crucial match against Arsenal, with Pep demanding an explanation for Man City’s schedule of seven games in 21 days.
Guardiola highlighted the unfairness of this situation, as foreign competitors benefit from the cooperation of their respective national associations.
His side’s upcoming fixtures include a challenging encounter against Aston Villa on Wednesday, followed by an early kick-off against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With a three-day respite, they will then take on Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final and then they have a match against Luton three days before the return leg against the Spanish giants.
Guardiola is particularly infuriated by the decision to schedule City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Saturday, April 20, instead of allowing an extra day’s rest.
“Coventry, Chelsea & United don’t play Champions league”😡
Pep Guardiola moaning about City’s fixture schedule but, he seems to forget Coventry play 46 league games compared to their 38🙄#PUSB pic.twitter.com/lAUg9uAdaB
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) March 31, 2024
Guardiola said: “Madrid have nine days to prepare for our game. Nine days! They play this weekend and then not again until our game – while I am thinking, ‘Oh, just give me one more day!’
”With one more day the difference is a lot – but there is no chance. That’s why, when you ask me about changes to the calendar, I give my opinion – but forget about it. I defend my club and for my club it’s really tough playing every three days, three days, three days – and the other clubs don’t have that situation.
”In France, PSG don’t play between their quarter-final games. In Portugal, they often play on Friday before the Champions League. They (the FA and Premier League ) have their own business and their own decisions.
“But I would like to know the answer about why we play in the FA Cup all the time on Saturday and not on Sunday. One day is a lot of difference at this stage with injured players and the accumulation of games.”
He added: “UEFA has its own business, FIFA has its own business – and the broadcasters have their own business. Do you think they think, ‘Oh, what about City?’ The calendar has always been like that with us. There has always been less days to recover.
”Coventry, United, Chelsea, they are on holiday for that week. So why are we playing Saturday? Every year we play on the Saturday. It’s for the broadcasters and their answer is, ‘I pay a lot of money, that’s why.’ The broadcasters have their own decisions but I will defend my club. Just understand it from my point of view. Remember, we need five hours to travel to London. Chelsea won’t be coming here.”
This is how fans reacted after Pep Guardiola accuses FA and Premier League of undermining Man City in an extraordinary rant…
@mattycov123: And not only that look at the squad depth🤣they would play their 3rd team and beat us
@Pandamonium1881: He really does make you laugh. Identifies it’s about the money but then doesn’t mind spending it eh. If it’s so bad, then don’t spend billions, get relegated and you can play Coventry 😉😂 #FFP #115charges #ManCity
@AFCFinners: “WAAAH! My team that cost billions is having to do their job and I’m at risk of only winning 3 titles in a row instead of 4! How ever will I survive?”
@JonTucker2_: Pep would have a mental break down just playing good friday and easter monday
@DannyMurgatroyd: Try non league where pitches stop them playing and are playing 5 games a week
@safc_lex: Would be complaining all the more if their right to compete was withdrawn due to their financial irregularities! Which if you ask me it should be, suspended pending the longest investigation in the 🌏 All these PL managers do is twist and think they have it worse its pathetic!
@ToddSiddons: Can’t listen to this drivel, got a 25 man squad rest of us would envy, world class recovery, fly every where to reduce travel time, etc etc, just get on with it Pep
@EllisAshby11: Never thought I hear pep say Coventry in a sentence but here we are
@notjustdad: Always a shame when coaches say this; I get it that it’s just mind-games but ‘back in the day’ top teams, the ones achieving & winning things, had to play loads of games with smaller squads – pretty much the same XI all season. Playing lots of games is a sign of success.
@fittall1987: If only you had hundreds of millions and a top academy to build a squad capable of handling the volume of games..
@2022benclay: Accept for his massive squad. The luxury way they travel. The championship play 46 games. Also start in the efl cup earlier. The fixture congestion of the championship. He nearly has an excuse. Blame the met! They didn’t want Chelsea travelling Sunday
@brencrowl68: I’d much rather us play on the Saturday too, plenty of time to celebrate getting to the cup final. Also how big is your squad and its approx value surely you have the staff to cope? PUSB.
@PaulWarboLE: Here we go again “fixture congestion, to many matches” blah blah blah. If you don’t want to play so many matches tell your players to lose some matches in cup competitions then you won’t have so many games. Brian Clough never moaned from 1977-1980 about the amount Forest played.
@gmkonline: Simple, lobby for fewer European games. A straight knock out. Oh, and your billion pound funded team, state of the art facilities, ability to sign the best youngsters in Europe and top quality coaches may help more than Cov not playing away on the Continent. Melt.
@JCowsey: I love that Coventry and Champions League are being used in the same sentence by Pep Guardiola. Reinforces the fact we are back on the map
@OsirisRage: What is he moaning about? You go far in competitions it means you play more games. They have to be played at some point. Perhaps cut back on your pre season international travel and mid season Dubai trips ?
@Sidney1st: Yet they’ll go on post, mid and pre season tours etc. The solution is those who qualify for CL don’t play domestic cups the following season. Shakes it up a bit, gives others a proper chance at winning stuff and getting into Europe etc
@amaanmad_: I would honestly love to see Cov go all the way in the Cup give all these moaners a good humbling
@NDDuffy: Oh look a consequence of your own actions… you’re in several competitions and this is the result of it. Im sure many other teams would love to be in all these comps. Dont worry when the 115 or so charges kick in – you’ll be in League 1 and won’t have to worry about Europe. 😅😅
— Pete Dudgeon 🇮🇪 (@PeteDudgeon1) March 31, 2024
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