Rio Ferdinand really isn’t happy with what happened to Man City at the weekend

Redaction Simon Brett with Srinivas Sadhanand
Published on 2024-04-23 08:30:00

Rio Ferdinand disagreed with the scheduling of Manchester City’s match against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. Despite playing a full-strength team, City managed to secure a 1-0 win against Chelsea. Guardiola praised players like Rodri and Kyle Walker for their efforts in the game, with Jermaine Jenas highlighting Kevin De Bruyne’s work rate. Ferdinand criticized the decision to play the game on Saturday instead of Sunday, questioning why Manchester United and Coventry City couldn’t have played on that day instead.

Ferdinand’s focus on player welfare and the lack of rest between games is highlighted in his criticism of the scheduling. He emphasizes the risk of overburdening players, rather than just looking at squad depth or the manager’s selection. As a former player at the highest level, Ferdinand’s perspective adds weight to the conversation about the challenges of fixture congestion in top-level football. Guardiola also questioned the decision to play on Saturday, aligning with Ferdinand’s concerns about the lack of gap between games for the players.

The discussion around Manchester City’s victory over Chelsea is centered on Ferdinand and Guardiola’s criticism of the scheduling of the match. While City managed to secure a win, the focus is on the impact on player welfare and the potential risks of overloading players with back-to-back games. Ferdinand’s perspective as a former player lends credibility to the concerns raised about fixture congestion in football. Guardiola’s comments echo Ferdinand’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of prioritizing player well-being in scheduling matches.

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