“It’s too much” – Pep Guardiola fumes at Manchester City fixture schedule ahead of defining month

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Published on 2024-02-25 15:00:00

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once again raised concerns about the busy fixture schedule. His team’s recent 1-0 victory over Bournemouth put them within one point of league leaders Liverpool, thanks to Phil Foden’s goal in the first half. This win extended City’s unbeaten streak to 17 matches and marked their sixth win out of seven games in February.

Next, Manchester City will face Luton Town in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup, concluding a challenging month of fixtures. The team will also play crucial Premier League matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, and Arsenal in March. As they remain in contention for a fourth consecutive title, City’s schedule includes a UEFA Champions League game and a potential FA Cup quarter-final in the upcoming month.

Despite their strong performance, Guardiola expressed frustration with the demanding schedule, acknowledging the physical strain on his players. He praised their resilience, referring to them as “supermen” for playing frequent matches. City has already played 40 games this season, with more to come as they aim to defend their titles in multiple competitions.

With just two points separating the top three teams in the Premier League – Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal – the race for the title is intensifying. City’s ambition to retain last season’s historic treble adds to the pressure as they navigate a packed schedule and tough competition in the coming months. Guardiola’s concerns echo a common sentiment among managers about the toll that frequent games can take on players, but he remains focused on the challenge ahead.

Read Original article on City Xtra