Pep Guardiola worried that lack of rest after Club World Cup could ‘destroy’ Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during a training session at Lynn University in Boca Raton on June 29, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 30, 2025, 05:11 PM

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ORLANDO – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new English Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could “destroy” them.

City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18.

They face Al-Hilal in Orlando on June 30 (July 1, Singapore time) in the round of 16 and should City go on to reach the final on July 13, they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on Aug 16.

Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year.

“I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” he added.

“I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened. So we’ll see.”

England coach Thomas Tuchel said Arne Slot’s Reds and Arsenal have an advantage on City for the upcoming campaign because they are resting during the summer.

“I try to not think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious,” added Guardiola.

The City boss said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football’s worst idea.

However, the Spaniard also said he wants his team to win Fifa’s heavily criticised newly expanded competition this summer in the United States, noting many of the complaints have come from teams which did not reach the tournament.

Klopp, currently Red Bull’s head of global football, told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag the crowded calendar meant there was no time for players to recover mentally or physically and he had serious concern over possible injuries.

“Jurgen – we fought together many, many times, I know where the idea comes from, we fought a lot in England, when we went to Uefa meetings, especially on the Premier League, (about) the calendar, to try to (increase the) quality,” Guardiola told reporters.

“So the players rest, and the managers rest, (then) you have more quality, so it didn’t surprise me, I understand him, I respect him.

“I have an incredible relationship with Jurgen, when we were rivals... I understand his argument, because his argument I would defend as well.”

The coach said despite the criticism the tournament has received, he is “proud” to be competing to win it.

“At the same time we’re in a job, we follow Fifa, Uefa, Premier League, Serie A... the managers are not going to organise the competitions, everyone has their own role, they organise the competitions,” continued Guardiola.

“I have said many times, I am so proud to be here, because in the end many, many teams complain about the competitions, because they are not here, otherwise they would love maybe to be there.” REUTERS, AFP

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