Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the potential toll of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup on his team’s season but suggested that rival clubs may be envious of City’s involvement.
City are currently in the United States, preparing to face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals. Having already spent over two weeks abroad, the squad could remain on tour until the final in New York on July 13.
Guardiola admitted the rigorous schedule could affect their performance next season, which kicks off on August 15.
“This is the first time for all of us. Maybe by November, December, or January we’ll be exhausted, and this tournament might have worn us down,” Guardiola said. “But for now, let’s see how it goes. We’ll take the rest the Premier League allows and evaluate from there.”
Criticism of the expanded Club World Cup has been fierce, with former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp labeling it a “pointless competition” and warning of an unprecedented injury crisis next season. Klopp now serves as Red Bull’s global soccer chief.
Responding to Klopp’s concerns, Guardiola acknowledged the validity of some of his former rival’s points but noted that many clubs would gladly trade places with City.
“I’ve had many battles with Jurgen, so his comments didn’t surprise me,” Guardiola said. “But many teams complaining about the Club World Cup are doing so because they’re not part of it. If they were here, with their media and fans and the revenue it brings, they’d probably enjoy it.”
Guardiola conceded the circumstances aren’t ideal. “Of course I’d prefer two months to prepare for next season and come back fresh,” he said. “But we earned the right to be here, and now that we are, we’ll give it our best.”
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