greg . 2025-06-30 08:10:03

Pep Guardiola concerned Club World Cup could 'crush' Man City's start to next campaign

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is concerned over the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League campaign and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could "crush" them.

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

They face Al Hilal in Orlando on Tuesday in the round of 16 and should City go on to advance to the final on the 13th of July, they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on the 16th of August.

Guardiola said he did never know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him over 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.

"Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, who said the enlarged 32-squad event, to be held once every four years amid the warm-up, was soccer's worst idea.

"Jurgen, we fought united multiple, multiple times.

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when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, over how to add extra quality, giving the managers and stars extra rest," Guardiola said.

"So his comments didn’t surprise me a lot .

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I understand his argument, since I would shield his argument as well.

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