Pep Guardiola admits that he is concerned about the potential assessment that the World Cup is extended could face his Manchester City team, although he has admitted a feeling of pride of competition.
City is expected to face Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia on Monday in their first step to potentially reaching the final. The team has already been in the United States for more than two weeks, and if they take place to the end, the trip could extend almost a full month.
With the Premier League 2025-26 season from August 15, Guardiola admitted that he did not know what impact on the extended summer campaign would have on his players.
“After that, let’s see what’s going on,” said Guardiola. “Let’s see what’s going on after the final. We can rest and take the time that the Premier League allowed us to rest, then we will see.
“Perhaps in November, December or January, it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and that the World Cup has destroyed us. I don’t know, but it is the first time in our life that it happens.
“Mentally, I think that in the past, the players have played in the World Cups or the European Championships for their national teams, so it happens sometimes. You need a mentally restful rest, you can recover and then we will see when we come back.”
One of the greatest criticisms of the extended tournament came from the former boss of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, who recently called the new format “unnecessary competition” and warned that this could lead to “injuries like never before”.
Now, in a non -training role as a world football chief for Red Bull, Klopp’s warnings echo others in the game – and Guardiola, although still in competition, admitted to having seen the validity in them.
“The worst idea never implemented in football.” 🫠
Pep responds to Klopp’s comments on the club World Cup …#Bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/kwwovxzmow
– Day match (@bbcmotd) June 30, 2025
“Listen, I fought a lot with Jurgen many times,” said Guardiola.
“I know where his idea comes from. His comments [on the Club World Cup] didn’t surprise me much. I understand it. I respect him. Now it is remote from this position [as a manager] And I understand his argument, because I also defended his argument. »»
However, Guardiola also suggested that the criticism of certain districts could be tinged with jealousy on the presence of the city during the event.
“As managers, we do not organize competitions. Once we are here, we are proud. Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here; Otherwise, they could like to be here.
“They would have their media and his supporters here, and there would be income to be here and they would be happy to be here.
“Of course, this is not an ideal situation for the manager. I would love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes. Would I like to be refreshed for next season? Yes.
“But that’s what it is. And we deserve what we have done in the past to be here. Once we are here, let’s do our best possible. ”
