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Guardiola Concerned About Manchester City's Packed Schedule Next Season

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expresses concerns about the team's packed schedule next season, fearing a repeat of this season's injury crisis.



Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed uncertainty about the availability of star striker Erling Haaland for Sunday's Premier League clash against Liverpool. Haaland, 24, was named on the bench during City's Champions League exit to Real Madrid on Wednesday but did not make an appearance. Guardiola provided an update on Haaland's status, saying, “Tomorrow we will know,” regarding his potential availability for the match against Liverpool.


The absence of Haaland would be a significant blow to City's chances, but Guardiola does have alternative options, including January signing Omar Marmoush. However, Guardiola acknowledged the importance of Haaland, who has scored 27 goals this season. “It's better to have Erling on the pitch than not,” he said. “Of course, with Erling, we are stronger.” Guardiola's comments highlight the significance of Haaland's contribution to City's success this season.



Guardiola also praised Liverpool, who are currently leading the Premier League table. Despite the departure of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has continued to thrive under new manager Arne Slot. ”For me, it's an exceptional team. I have said many times, they have been the biggest rival in my tenure here,” Guardiola said. His comments reflect the high level of respect he has for Liverpool, who have been a consistent challenger to City's dominance in the Premier League.




Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Liverpool's position at the top of the Premier League table is not surprising, given their consistent performance in recent years. “Arsenal right now in the last years have been involved as well, but I could not expect differently that Liverpool (would) be in the position that they are,” Guardiola said. Liverpool currently holds an eight-point lead over Arsenal, who have a game in hand and are favorites to cut the gap to five points when they host West Ham on Saturday.




Manchester City's title defense is all but over, with the team trailing Liverpool by 17 points in fourth place. Injuries have played a significant role in City's decline, with John Stones set to miss another couple of months due to a thigh tear. Rodri and Manuel Akanji may also not play again this season due to their respective injuries. Guardiola pointed to the team's brutal schedule as a contributing factor to the injuries, noting that other top clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Tottenham, are also battling a number of serious muscle injuries this season.




Manchester City's participation in the Club World Cup could lead to a prolonged season, potentially stretching into mid-July. With the next Premier League season starting barely a month later, manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the potential impact on his team's preparations and performance. Guardiola expressed his concerns, saying, “Of course, I'm concerned. So, next season, everybody will be fit? I don't know what's going to happen.”


Guardiola highlighted the challenges of managing a team that competes in multiple competitions, citing the physical toll it takes on players. “We have already a lot of players that cannot sustain what we have in the past. Week in, week out, playing a dozen different competitions, travels. Without the problems,” he said. Guardiola emphasized that the current schedule is unsustainable, stating, “More than 50 games, it's too much for the players. It's too much for the human being, the body cannot sustain without a medical issue.”


Guardiola pointed out that the issue is not unique to Manchester City, but rather a problem faced by all clubs competing at the highest level. He noted that the cumulative effect of playing 65-70 games per season can lead to injuries and other medical issues. “And we arrived at 65, 70 games and, at the end, look what happened. It's not just Man City. It's all the clubs,” Guardiola said, highlighting the need for reform to protect player welfare.




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