Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once again voiced his frustration over the congested football calendar, which has exacerbated injuries within his squad and negatively impacted their performance. Guardiola has long been critical of the tight scheduling, but the mounting injury issues in his team have only heightened his concerns.
At the start of the season, City was hit hard by injuries. Midfield maestro Rodri, the recent Ballon d’Or winner, was ruled out for the entire season. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne also spent a significant time on the sidelines. Many others have been sidelined at various points, leaving City struggling to maintain their usual standards.
After a strong start to the campaign, the four-time consecutive Premier League champions have experienced a dramatic slump. In their last 10 matches across all competitions, City has managed just one win, suffering seven losses and drawing twice.
This poor run of form has severely dented their hopes of retaining the Premier League title, and they now face the risk of an early exit from the Champions League group stage.
City will take on Manchester United in the Premier League this Sunday in an attempt to turn their season around. Speaking in Friday’s press conference, Guardiola pointed to the relentless schedule as a major factor behind their struggles.
“The players’ hunger to win and their fighting spirit remain unchanged,” Guardiola said.
“I feel bad for them because of the way they run and fight, yet still don’t get results. The circumstances (of the congested schedule) under which we’re competing make what they’re doing truly incredible.”
He added, “There are far more matches on the calendar now than before. Our injury issues are far worse too. It makes me think we need a squad of 45-50 players to handle this many games. But financially, that’s extremely difficult for any club.”
The situation isn’t likely to improve anytime soon. Next summer, the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup with 32 teams will take place, further reducing the break between seasons. Guardiola expressed his dissatisfaction with this upcoming disruption as well.
“In the summer, we’ll play the Club World Cup. Three weeks after that, the Premier League will start again. Maybe we’ll have to increase the depth of our squad even further.”
“The problem is the schedule. It’s not training, physios, doctors, or the players—it’s just the schedule. This is the reality. And sooner or later, all clubs will face this issue.”
While City is grappling with this crisis, rivals Manchester United have also been struggling for form. Despite appointing new coach Ruben Amorim, United has failed to deliver any major breakthroughs this season. If this match had taken place six weeks ago, City would have undoubtedly been the favorites. However, the current situation paints a much more balanced picture.
In the Premier League table, City currently sits fourth with 27 points from 15 matches, trailing league leaders Liverpool by eight points. Liverpool, with a game in hand, has been in excellent form. On the other hand, Manchester United is 13th with 19 points from the same number of games.
Sunday’s clash at the Etihad promises to be a pivotal moment in what has been a challenging season for both sides.
