‘UEFA And FIFA Killed The Players’: Pep Guardiola On Hectic Football Schedules In Europe

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola lashed out at the FIFA and UEFA ahead of the Champions League game against Dortmund.

(File Photo/ Getty Images)

The Spaniard defended his rotational policy when he met reporters before Manchester City’s Champions League game on Tuesday against Dortmund. He was talking about the six changes that City made for their Premier League game on Saturday. They defeated Leicester 2-0 away from home. Guardiola was irked at FIFA and UEFA with the amount of matches that his team will have to play in the remaining season.

Apart from the Premier League and Champions League matches, Man City will play a total of 15 matches before the current season ends. They have an FA Cup Final against Chelsea and also a Carabao Cup Final against Tottenham this month.

So what did Guardiola say?

"They are human beings, they are not machines," said Guardiola to reporters. "I know the players, some of them are upset all the time because they want to play every day but this is not possible.

To compete in all competitions in this year without spectators, in the shortest competition ever, if you don't rotate you don't compete in all competitions and you will not be in the position we are in now.”

When asked about if the players at City are doing good enough to compete, he said: "Of course they could play, they have an incredible mentality but they need rest. UEFA and FIFA killed the players because it's too much. We haven't had one midweek off since we started, not even one. There is no player who can sustain (this), not just physically but mentally to be ready every day to compete against opponents to win the game. It's impossible.”

"I rotate I'm a genius, 'well done Pep' but when we lose and I rotate people say 'why rotate? You have to play the players like normal'. But it's unsustainable.

"The next game we are going to play fresh legs and against Leeds, more than ever, fresh legs."

Pep Guardiola will be next seen in action on Tuesday Night against Dortmund in the Champions League squad.