NEW YORK — Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola complained about fixture congestion through the workforce’s preseason tour within the U.S. because the workforce prepares for what might be one other 50-plus recreation season.
“Establishments like FIFA, UEFA, and Premier League do not take into consideration the gamers so the managers have to consider it,” he mentioned in a press convention on Saturday. “In any other case, they are going to die. It is an excessive amount of.”
Metropolis misplaced 3-2 to AC Milan in a preseason pleasant at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, and although a number of key gamers like Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish began, a handful of the workforce’s stars have been lacking. That features Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri, who reached the knockout levels of the Euros this summer season and are nonetheless on trip.
Guardiola has lengthy been a critic of the schedules gamers face, particularly on the high stage. Metropolis performed 59 video games through the 2023-24 season, which included a run to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, the FA Cup closing and the UEFA Tremendous Cup, a reward for profitable the Champions League on the finish of the 2022-23 season.
The supervisor is likely one of the high-profile figures to talk on participant load since FIFPRO Europe and the European Leagues filed a criticism in opposition to FIFA final week to the European Fee. The worldwide gamers’ union and the continent’s high leagues allege that FIFA’s worldwide match calendar is just too saturated and never sustainable to make sure gamers can constantly carry out at peak ranges.
Regardless of being a continuing critic, Guardiola appears resigned to the packed calendar being a actuality for the rapid future.
“There isn’t any answer. Is not going to be [a] answer as a result of there is no such thing as a intention to be [a] answer,” he mentioned.
Guardiola mentioned complicating favors, like the will for gamers to compete for his or her nationwide groups in worldwide competitions and for golf equipment to journey for preseason excursions.
“The golf equipment need to journey, to make our model world wide,” he mentioned. “The Euros need to play, the nationwide groups need to play. FIFA, UEFA, numerous competitions, they need to defend this product and make video games.”
Guardiola acknowledged that whereas the state of affairs is much from excellent, it isn’t one thing Metropolis is unfamiliar with.
“The competitors is there already and it’s important to adapt,” he mentioned. “That is the way in which it’s and we have now to adapt. [Did] not occur this season — occurred for 4, 5, six, seven years. Each time, it is the identical and would have wish to have the preparation, a correct one however that is not possible … We go like we had accomplished like earlier seasons that we had success, having the identical calendar like this.”
