Fixture Fury: Pep Guardiola Blames FA and Premier League for Scheduling Squeeze on Man City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola launched a scathing attack on the FA and Premier League, accusing them of unfairly burdening his team with a demanding fixture schedule.
This outburst comes ahead of a crucial title showdown against Arsenal, where City will be aiming to maintain their Treble ambitions.
Packed Schedule Threatens City’s Treble Bid
Reports from TheMirror, claims Pep Guardiola demanded an explanation for why City are forced to play a staggering seven games in just 21 days, a period that could define their season. He highlighted the disparity compared to their European rivals, who benefit from more flexibility from their national associations.
The upcoming schedule sees City face high-flying Aston Villa followed by a challenging lunchtime kick-off at Crystal Palace, both within a few days. This leaves them with a mere three-day break before a critical Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
Adding to the pressure, City then have a quick turnaround to face Luton before the return leg against the Spanish giants.
Pep Guardiola who was recently blasted by ex City defender Joao Cancelo for telling lies about his departure as revealed by Sports Buddy, now hits back at the English FA.
However, Guardiola’s biggest frustration lies with the scheduling of the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. While City are forced to play theirs on Saturday, April 20th, a single day’s delay could have provided much-needed rest.
Unfair Scheduling Compared to European Rivals
“Real Madrid have the luxury of nine days to prepare for our match,” said Pep Guardiola, emphasizing the imbalance. “They have a full weekend off before facing us, while I’m left yearning for just one additional day.”
He continued, “That extra day makes a world of difference. Unfortunately, raising concerns about the fixture calendar seems pointless. I advocate for my club, and this schedule with constant three-day gaps is incredibly challenging. Other teams simply don’t face this kind of pressure.”
Pep Guardiola provided examples of more accommodating schedules in other leagues: “PSG in France doesn’t play any matches between their Champions League quarter-final games. In Portugal, teams often play on Fridays before their Champions League fixtures.”
He directed his frustration towards the English governing bodies: “The FA and Premier League have their own agendas and make unilateral decisions. However, I would appreciate an explanation for why the FA Cup semi-final is consistently scheduled for Saturdays instead of Sundays. At this crucial stage with injuries and player fatigue, that extra day could be crucial.”
Guardiola Refuses to Prioritize – Injuries Add to Concerns
Throughout his eight-year tenure at Manchester City, Guardiola has consistently refused to prioritize domestic cup competitions in favor of the Premier League and Champions League.
City holds the impressive record of reaching six consecutive FA Cup semi-finals, the first team to do so in the competition’s 152-year history. However, for the past four seasons, they’ve been consistently scheduled to play at Wembley on the Saturday following a Champions League appearance, denying the opportunity for an extra day of rest.
Manchester United, their opponents in the other FA Cup semi-final, enjoy the advantage of playing the following day.
Guardiola’s grievances are further compounded by injuries to key defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker, both sustained during the recent international break.
