Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed his concern about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could “destroy” them.
This comes after Red Bull head of soccer and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp slammed the timing of the competition, which he feels will leave players tired and without rest ahead of the coming football league season.
Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football’s worst idea.
“I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened. So we’ll see.”
“Juergen, we fought together many, many times… when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest,” Guardiola added.
Man. City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18. And should City go on to reach the final on July 13 they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on August 16.