Real Madrid’s attempt to oust Manchester City out of the Champions League will be hindered by the gruesome demands of the Premier League schedule, according to Pep Guardiola.
After beating Club Brugge on Wednesday to scramble into the knockout stages, Guardiola’s side were pitted against the 15-time European champions in Friday’s play-off round draw.
On February 11 or 12, City will travel to Madrid for the first leg, which will take place a week later.
City will face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday and have home games against Newcastle and Liverpool on either side of the second leg. It has been a rough start to City’s campaign.
Additionally, they have a league game against Tottenham in February and a fourth-round FA Cup trip to Leyton Orient.
“Well it looks like a derby already, four years in a row facing Madrid”, Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“The draw could have been nicer? Yes. Bayern Munich was extremely difficult. Real Madrid difficult, we know that”.
Guardiola will have to make difficult selections throughout the crucial time because City will be attempting to win the next season’s Champions League and City will also be battling to win the tournament this year.
The English top flight has a hectic schedule throughout the season, just as other European leagues change their fixtures to give Champions League clubs more time to prepare.
Guardiola claimed that Premier League teams typically have the most difficult schedules in Europe.
The most challenging schedules are because of the difficulty of playing against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, but Newcastle is at the center of it.
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Fixture pile-up ,
When asked whether the Premier League champions needed more assistance from domestic authorities regarding the schedule, Guardiola responded, “Are you asking me this foolish question after many years? Come on. Don’t ask me to say something impolite.
It has been this way for many years. I remember Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger made the same complaints.
“Do you think it is going to change? The broadcasters decide, they don’t ask me what is better to play.
We won trebles and achieved incredible success in doing that, so I’m not complaining.
“I would love (more time) absolutely. But if you don’t like it, go to another country, don’t be Manchester City manager”.
The draw marks City’s fifth consecutive two-legged tie with Real.
Real defeated Real in the 2022/23 semi-finals to seal their first Champions League title, but Real reached the quarter-finals of last season in the quarter-finals.
Rodri’s return would significantly increase Guardiola’s chances of repeating that success.
The Spain midfielder, who was initially ruled out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury suffered against Arsenal in September, has struggled badly for City.
However, the 2024 winner of the Ballon d’Or is confident that he will be back before the season’s conclusion.
“He is positive. However, each football player and each athlete has an ACL. You have to respect the human body”, Guardiola said.
It’s foolish to win one month and then experience setbacks the following season. Of course he wants to play tomorrow, I know that. It is going really well. We respect that step by step.
Source: Channels TV
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