We will not be ready for next season — Guardiola hands boost to Arsenal in Premier League race
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola || Image credit: Imago

We will not be ready for next season — Guardiola hands boost to Arsenal in Premier League race

Faruq Ibrahim 02:18 - 30.07.2024

Manchester City manager attacks FIFA and Premier League in a recent interview.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that his team will not be in peak condition when the Premier League comes around in less than a month. 

The Cityzens have won the last four English top-flight titles—a record. They aim to extend that record next season, making it five in a row; however, they risk handing the competition a head start, as Guardiola believes his team will not be prepared for the start of the season. 

What Guardiola said 

Manchester City were heavily involved in the football competitions this summer. They had a large contingent at the European Championships and the Copa America. They also have players like Julian Alvarez who are competing in the ongoing Olympics as well.

This has meant they do not have a complete squad to rely on for the preseason, and this has been reflected in their results so far. 

They suffered a 4-3 defeat in their pre-season opener against Celtic, and three days ago, a Samuel Chukwueze powered AC Milan beat them 3-2. 

Chukwueze against Man City || Imago
Chukwueze against Man City || Imago

Ahead of their match against Barcelona tomorrow, Guardiola has warned that his squad will take time to kick into gear for the following campaign while taking a shot at football organisers like the Premier League, UEFA and FIFA for oversaturating the fixture calendar. 

"We will arrive late but not [just] against Manchester United [in the Community Shield], against Chelsea and Ipswich too,” Guardiola told reporters, 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.

Pep Guardiola
England want Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate (Credit: Imago)

"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. 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.

"We would like to have had proper preparation but it's impossible because national teams deserve to play and every institution like FIFA and UEFA and local competitions want to defend their product and make games. 

“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."

Meanwhile, Guardiola recently addressed his future at the club. He dismissed all notions that he desired an exit, stating that he was open to renewing his contract, which expires in 2025. 

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