Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City’s upcoming schedule is “terrible” with six games in less than a month threatening to derail their dream of a domestic Treble.
The Etihad boss says he’ll be forced to use his entire squad after City booked their place in the FA Cup final on May 16 with a 2-1 win over Southampton at Wembley. That victory has thrown up a major headache: their Premier League trip to Bournemouth will now have to be rearranged, adding to an already bursting calendar.
City are also still waiting for a new date for the home clash with Crystal Palace. That one was originally postponed because of the Blues’ involvement in the Carabao Cup final and has yet to be rescheduled thanks to Palace’s own run in the Conference League.
“Yeah it is terrible,” Guardiola said, when asked about the pile up. “That is why I need the squad. That is why I need all of them. We cannot play with the same players every three days. It will not be possible.”
The Spaniard, never one to sugar coat things, added: “We have to manage with the substitutions and everyone has to make a step forward. Of course I demand more from some of them, more and more and more, and this is what you have to do.”
Only Rayan Cherki, Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait Nouri started both the Burnley and Southampton games, a sign of how much Guardiola has already been forced to rotate. Their efforts have left City within touching distance of three trophies.
“When we started the season, I always expect that we will be at the top and win all the titles,” he said. “Now that is not possible. After what happened last season, there was a little bit question marks, how a lot of players would react to many things. At the end, we found something.”
Guardiola reckons his side are hitting top form at exactly the right time. “The players are in the best moment right now and taking it day by day. Before Arsenal and Burnley I said: ‘Okay guys, it is not much to talk.’
“They know perfectly that we have to win, score as most goals as possible and let’s see. It is game, good recover, game, recover, prepare well and no more than that.”
For all the moans about fixture congestion, the City boss was quick to praise his side’s consistency. “What I say many times, the club is defined in the latter stages when you are fighting for the titles. That is when you make a good season.
“Always we are there. I am so proud of that. I love to lift titles but not taking a step back against teams in League One, League Two, Championship because you are not there, putting in a bad performance but that never happened.
“It happened maybe once, one and a half but not much. The rest we was always there and that defines the big clubs.”
He added: “Not all the clubs can win all the time but being at the end battling with Arsenal, with the Jurgen team, FA Cups, that is extraordinary. It is time to enjoy it. As a club, organisation, everyone has to be so proud.”
City now face a gruelling run in with the Premier League and FA Cup still on the line. Next up? Another quick turnaround. No rest for the wicked or the champions.
