Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called out football’s top authorities at FIFA and Premier League regarding the welfare of players.
The Premier League champions are currently on pre-season tour in USA with reduced squad, with several key players yet to join the team after participating in international tournaments (Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024) over summer.
Pep Guardiola’s warning
Speaking to reporters Pep Guardiola expressed concerns over congestion of games and it’s effect on players. He believes City will be unable to adequately prepare for upcoming season due to these circumstances.
“We will arrive late but not [just] against Manchester United [in the Community Shield], against Chelsea and Ipswich too,” the Spanish manager said, per Goal.
”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.
“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. It’s too much.
“That’s why three weeks or one month is necessary, but the competition is there and you have to adapt.”
Guardiola is not the first to speak on player welfarism in relation to game congestion, with many other managers and stakeholders in the game speaking on this subject matter.
Meanwhile, Sports Buddy revealed in other news how Guardiola was brutally rejected by Arsenal after begging to the join club.
