Pep Guardiola admits he’s involved concerning the potential toll the expanded Club World Cup might tackle his Manchester City squad, though he did go on to confess a way of satisfaction in competing.
City are set to face Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia on Monday of their first step towards doubtlessly reaching the ultimate. The squad has already been within the United States for over two weeks, and will they go all the best way, the journey might stretch near a full month.
With the 2025-26 Premier League season starting on August 15, Guardiola admitted he’s not sure what affect the prolonged summer season marketing campaign could have on his gamers.
“After this, let’s see what occurs,” stated Guardiola. “Let’s see what occurs after the ultimate. We can relaxation and take the time that the Premier League has allowed us to relaxation after which we are going to see.
“Maybe in November, December or January, it is going to be a catastrophe, we’re exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don’t know, but it surely’s the primary time in our lives that this has occurred.
“Mentally, I feel previously the gamers have performed in World Cups or European Championships for his or her nationwide groups, so it occurs generally. You want a relaxation mentally generally, you may get well after which we are going to see after we come again.”
One of the largest criticisms of the expanded match has come from former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who lately known as the brand new format “a pointless competitors” and warned it might result in “accidents like by no means earlier than.”
Now in a non-coaching position as head of world soccer for Red Bull, Klopp’s warnings echo considerations from others within the sport – and Guardiola, although nonetheless competing, admitted he noticed validity in them.
“The worst thought ever applied in soccer.” 🫠
Pep responds to Klopp’s feedback concerning the Club World Cup…#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/KwWovXzMOw
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 30, 2025
“Listen, I fought quite a bit with Jurgen many, many instances,” Guardiola stated.
“I do know the place his thought comes from. His feedback [on the Club World Cup] didn’t shock me quite a bit. I perceive him. I respect him. Now, he’s stepped again from that place [as a manager] and I perceive his argument, as a result of I might defend his argument, as nicely.”
However, Guardiola additionally hinted that criticism from some quarters is likely to be tinged with jealousy over City’s presence on the occasion.
“As managers, we don’t organise the competitions. Once we’re right here, we’re proud. Many, many groups complain about these competitions as a result of they don’t seem to be right here; in any other case, they may love being right here.
“They would have their media and supporters right here, and there could be earnings to be right here and they might be joyful to be right here.
“Of course, it’s not a super scenario for the supervisor. Would I like to have two months to organize for subsequent season? Yes. Would I like to be refreshed for subsequent season? Yes.
“But it’s what it’s. And we deserve what we now have executed previously to be right here. Once we’re right here, let’s do our greatest doable.”
