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Pep Guardiola has voiced concern over the toll Manchester City’s summer schedule could take on his squad, warning that the expanded Club World Cup has the potential to “destroy” their 2025–26 campaign.
The reigning Premier League champions, who wrapped up their domestic duties on May 25, began their Club World Cup journey in Philadelphia on June 18, just three weeks after the end of the season. They have only a little more than a month to regroup before the English top flight resumes on August 16 after their elimination by Saudi side Al-Hilal in Orlando on Monday in the round of 16.
“I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” Guardiola said.
“I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we'll see.”
City's hectic summer has left some players with as few as five days off between campaigns, though Guardiola said the entire squad would get three weeks' rest after the tournament concludes. Asked about the physical and mental toll, he admitted he was reserving judgment for now. “Ask me, Pep… in November, December, January.”
The Manchester City boss also responded to former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who recently described FIFA’s 32-team Club World Cup as “football’s worst idea.” Klopp is now overseeing Red Bull’s global football operations, including clubs like RB Leipzig and Salzburg.
“Jürgen, we fought together many, many times … when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest,” Guardiola said.
“So his comments didn’t surprise me a lot … I understand his argument because I would defend his argument as well.”
Guardiola acknowledged the challenges but stressed the need to adapt. “I try not to think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious,” he said. “We will rest the time the Premier League allows us to. And game by game, month by month, we will see.”
Beyond the English football scene, criticism of the Club World Cup is mounting. France’s Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) issued a damning statement over the weekend, accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of being out of touch.
The union also highlighted the violation of player welfare standards, noting that the tournament overlooks key labour agreements that guarantee “an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.”
Guardiola, while sympathetic to the criticism, framed his own position pragmatically. “Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here,” he said. “Would I love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes… But it is what it is.”
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @mancityus, Unsplash / Jonny Gios
