Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola raises question over Premier League’s calendar, disappointed with Real Madrid getting ‘one more day to recover’
Manchester City are having a very hectic schedule on their way to winning the treble this season.
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Pep Guardiola
In a press conference, Pep Guardiola said, “I don’t understand it, but I have to adapt. I can’t fight against the calendar. It is what it is. I am sure that the Premier League wants to help its teams. They do not want us to be uncomfortable, but it is the calendar. You have to adapt. I would have preferred to play on Saturday, of course, but what am I going to do? We have one more day to recover for Everton, but one day less against Real Madrid”.
Manchester City are having a very hectic schedule on their way to winning the treble this season. The Premier League leaders are just a point ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand, and they also have the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid and the FA Cup final against Manchester United to come.
City is coming off a tense 1-1 Champions League semi-final draw at Real Madrid on Tuesday, and host the defending champions in the second leg on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola’s team will also play in the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United on June 3. City have been dominant in the Premier League this season. They have won 10 successive league games, and need two more wins to secure their third title in four years.
When asked how his players bounce back from Tuesday’s physically and mentally draining draw he replied, “We don’t have much time from Madrid because we play on Sunday, thank you so much. If in the previous game you win, mentally your recovery is quicker. Always I believe that human being has incredible resources to move forward and keep going. When you believe ‘I am exhausted, I cannot go anymore,’ you can. You can. “
Real Madrid plays Getafe in La Liga on Saturday, giving them an extra day to recover before their semi-final second leg against City. Guardiola said, “Doesn’t matter, So don’t fight anymore about the schedules, it is what it is. It’s not frustration, it is what it is”
Pep Guardiola predicted the Premier League title race
Man City are just one point clear of Arsenal at the top of the table but crucially they have a game in hand over their rivals and are looking good to win their fifth title in six seasons. The Gunners, who had led the title race for much of the campaign, saw their hopes fall apart in April with draws against Liverpool, West Ham, and Southampton, followed by a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad.
They have responded to that humiliating loss well though, beating Chelsea and Newcastle to keep the pressure on the Citizens who also have to navigate a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. And Guardiola, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, believes that they’ll keep up that momentum until the end of the season, saying, “I think they are going to win their three games. I would like them to drop points, to be honest, but I think they will get nine points. There are four games left in the Premier League and it’s really important to be there and keep our destiny in our hands”
Arsenal’s run-in begins against Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday, before a trip to Nottingham Forest and a final-day home game against Wolves. City meanwhile travels to Everton on Sunday, followed by Chelsea at home and then away fixtures at Brighton and Brentford.
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Arpan Ghosh
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