1 year ago
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Rob DawsonJun 29, 2025, 08:54 PM ET
ORLANDO -- Pep Guardiola has accepted that information successful the FIFA Club World Cup could "destroy" Manchester City's season, but hinted that different clubs not successful the tourney are jealous they are not taking part.
City look Saudi broadside Al Hilal successful Orlando connected Monday for a spot successful the quarterfinals.
Guardiola and his players person been successful the U.S. for much than 2 weeks and could walk different 2 weeks distant if they scope the last successful New York connected July 13.
He says he's got nary thought however his players volition respond adjacent play -- which starts connected Aug. 15 -- due to the fact that the Club World Cup is the archetypal variation of the caller expanded version.
"After this, let's spot what happens," said Guardiola. "Let's spot what happens aft the final. We tin remainder and instrumentality the clip that the Premier League has allowed america to remainder and past we volition see.
"Maybe successful November, December oregon January it volition beryllium a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don't know, but it's the archetypal clip successful our lives that this has happened.
"Mentally I deliberation successful the past the players person played successful World Cups oregon European Championships for their nationalist teams truthful it happens sometimes. You request a remainder mentally sometimes, you tin retrieve and past we volition spot erstwhile we travel back."
Jurgen Klopp has been 1 of the fiercest critics of the Club World Cup branding it "a pointless competition."
The German predicted clubs progressive could spot "injuries similar ne'er before" adjacent season.
When asked astir the comments, Guardiola admitted helium agreed with immoderate of his aged Liverpool rival's points. However, helium hinted that different clubs would emotion to beryllium successful City's position.
"Listen, I fought a batch with Jurgen many, galore times," said Guardiola. "I cognize wherever his thought comes from. His comments [on the Club World Cup] didn't astonishment maine a lot. I recognize him. I respect him.
"Now he's stepped backmost from that presumption [as a manager] and I recognize his argument, due to the fact that I would support his statement arsenic well.
"As managers, we don't organise the competitions. Once we are here, we are proud. Many, galore teams kick astir these competitions due to the fact that they are not here, different they mightiness emotion being here.
"They would person their media and supporters here, and determination would beryllium income to beryllium here, and they would beryllium blessed to beryllium here. Of course, it's not an perfect concern for the manager. Would I emotion to person 2 months to hole for adjacent season? Yes. Would I emotion to beryllium refreshed for adjacent season? Yes.
"But it is what it is. And we merit what we person done successful the past to beryllium here. Once we are here, let's bash our champion possible."
