Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has lambasted FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League for neglecting the welfare of his players.
Why Does Guardiola Not Have The Full Complement Of His Manchester City Players For Their 2024 Preseason Engagements?
The Cityzens are currently in the United States partaking in preseason matches with a depleted squad, as a handful of the club’s first-team players are absent due to their engagements in international tournaments this summer.
The unavailable players are currently enjoying the needed off-season break which they couldn’t take part in due to the engagements with their countries.
Rodri, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Folden, Nathan Ake, and Julian Alvarez are understood to be among the players who Guardiola is missing their presence.
Why Is Pep Guardiola Unhappy With UEFA, FIFA And The Premier League?
Guardiola appears unhappy by the absence of these players and he looks perturbed over Manchester City’s preparation for the upcoming campaign.
The Spaniard has lashed out at the officials of FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League over their scheduling of matches.
Pep Guardiola also asserted that players would “die” if they continued to play so many games across the year.
Manchester City are hunting for their 5th consecutive Premier League title, having secured a record-setting 4 consecutive league crowns in the 2023/24 season.
Pep Guardiola Bash UEFA, FIFA, And The Premier League For Neglecting Manchester City Players
Speaking to reporters concerning his side’s preparation ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Guardiola said:
“We will arrive late but not [just] against Manchester United [in the Community Shield], against Chelsea and Ipswich too. We will be late.
“It’s about trying not to drop many points, try to compete well. We don’t have players because they have to rest.”
Concerning the treatment of players by FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League, Pep Guardiola expressed that if these institutions don’t care about the welfare of players, managers are obliged to show concern.
The ex-Barcelona boss said: “If the big bosses and all the institutions like FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League don’t think about the players then the managers have to think about them, otherwise they will die.”
FIFA, UEFA And The Premier League Don’t Care About Player’s Welfare – Pep Guardiola
Guardiola further shared that the aforementioned notable footballing institutions aren’t making efforts to find a solution.
He said: “There’s no solution, there will not be a solution because there is no intention to find a solution.
“The clubs have to travel to show our brand around the world, to let other continents and places see our players, and we have to adapt.”
Pep Guardiola also pointed out that his players can’t have proper preparation because national teams also deserve to play and FIFA, UEFA, and the local competitions are keen on defending their product, hence the piling up of matches.
Anyway, Guardiola noted that Manchester City have a “good squad” and they will basically make use of the strategy used by the club in the past.
The 53-year-old added: “We have a good squad when everybody comes back. We have three, four, five interesting [young] players just in case we need them.
“We will do what we have done in the previous seasons when we have had success having the same calendar as this year.”
Manchester City’s 2024 Preseason Matches
Meanwhile, Manchester City return to preseason action on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, facing Barcelona at Camping World Stadium in Orland, Florida.
The Etihad club have had a poor preseason outing thus far, losing the two matches they have played thus far.
Pep Guardiola’s side lost 4-3 to Celtic on July 24, 2024, in their first preseason game, before also succumbing to Italian giants AC Milan 2-3 on July 27, 2024.
Moreover, after they clash with Barcelona, the Cityzens conclude their preparatory matches for the new campaign with a clash against Chelsea on August 3, 2024.
Seven days later, Manchester City battle neighbors Manchester United in the Community Shield, before locking horns with Chelsea in their opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League season on August 18, 2024.
