Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has launched an incredible outburst accusing the FA and Premier League of undermining his team’s chances of repeating their Treble win.
Ahead of a crucial match against Arsenal, Guardiola questioned why his team is being made to play seven games in just 21 days, while teams abroad receive support from their national associations. This week, City will take on Aston Villa before heading to Crystal Palace for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off. They then have only three days rest before they face Real Madrid in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.
Adding to this, they play Luton just three days before the second leg against Real Madrid. Guardiola is particularly upset about the decision to schedule his team’s FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea on Saturday, April 20, when it could have been played a day later.
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.”
Guardiola has always prioritised both domestic cup competitions and the Premier League during his eight years at Manchester City. City are the first club in the 152-year history of the FA Cup to reach six successive semi-finals – but in each of the last four seasons, they have been forced to play at Wembley on the Saturday after featuring in the Champions League rather than being granted an extra 24 hours to rest.
