Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lost his cool with the Premier League and the FA for trying to stop Manchester City from winning another treble this season.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s title-deciding clash against Arsenal at the Etihad, the Spaniard questioned the FA and the Premier League’s domestic fixtures plan for City.
Manchester City are heavily in the race for the Premier League title this season. They are also in Champions League last eight, and FA Cup last four.
There are projections the club may likely win a treble of FA Cup, Champions League, and the Premier League as they did last season.
Pep Guardiola is hoping to realise such a lofty dream but has fumed on the congested schedule matches for Manchester City in 21 season-defining days starting from next week Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Manchester City will be involved in a mid-week Premier League fixture on Wednesday against Aston Villa before playing Crystal Palace at the weekend on Saturday, and then traveling to Spain to take on Real Madrid in Champions League quarterfinal first-leg three days later.
After the Real Madrid clash, the Premier League and European champions play Luton in the following weekend in the Premier League before hosting Real Madrid in the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
A few days after the Real Madrid Champions League return leg, the team is scheduled to play Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal.
Within the 21 days, Manchester City will play seven competitive fixtures just days apart.
According to Guardiola, the congested schedule of matches will weigh on City’s title chances, and the Premier League and FA would have considered rescheduling the FA Cup semifinal matchup against Chelsea, including other key fixtures to allow the club navigate through all the slated matches with less hassle.
Guardiola particularly insisted Chelsea FA Cup match, which is scheduled to be played on Saturday, April 20 should have been shifted by 24 hours more to the next day.
“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.”
He added other national football associations do cooperate with their clubs to mitigate congested schedules but that has not been the case in England.
”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’s Manchester City is the first team to have made it through to the last four of the FA Cup in six successive seasons. They have been made to play their semifinals on Saturdays despite engagements in Champions League.
Guardiola believes such is a disservice to the team, who could have their treble chances torpedoed due to the congested schedule.
[…] Guardiola was particularly furious with Manchester City’s FA Cup semifinal fixture against Chelsea, and questioned the FA’s decision schedule matches on Saturday’s, especially for domestic clubs involved in continental European club championship. […]