Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed deep concerns over the limited rest period his team will have before the new Premier League season. The team’s involvement in the expanded Club World Cup, he warns, could potentially “destroy” them. City concluded their previous Premier League season on May 25 and commenced their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia a mere three weeks later on June 18.
As the competition progresses, City is set to face Al-Hilal in Orlando on Tuesday morning in the round of 16. Should they advance to the final on July 13, Guardiola’s squad will have just a month to prepare for the new league season beginning on August 16. Guardiola candidly admitted his uncertainty about the toll the Club World Cup might take on his players, suggesting that the true impact would only be evident later in the year.
“I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” Guardiola remarked. “I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened. So we’ll see.”
Concerns from the Football Community
Guardiola’s apprehensions echo those of former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who has been vocal about the drawbacks of the expanded 32-team event, scheduled to occur every four years during the pre-season. Klopp has labeled it as football’s worst idea, a sentiment Guardiola shares.
“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 stated. “So his comments didn’t surprise me a lot … I understand his argument because I would defend his argument as well.”
French Players’ Union Criticizes FIFA
Guardiola’s concerns align with the recent criticisms from France’s union of professional footballers, the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP). The union has launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup, accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of being out of touch with the realities faced by players worldwide.
“The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers,” a UNFP statement declared. “From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game’s leading players.”
The UNFP further criticized Infantino’s approach, arguing that the Club World Cup exemplifies the urgent need to halt what they describe as a “massacre game,” where the physical and mental health of players is compromised for financial gain.
Impact of the Expanded Tournament
The newly expanded tournament, which includes 32 of the world’s top teams, has faced significant pushback since FIFA announced its addition to an already crowded calendar. Scheduled to be played every four years, the tournament is wedged between other major international competitions, such as the men’s World Cup, European Championship, and Copa America.
The UNFP’s statement highlights that the Club World Cup arrives at the end of an already grueling season, disregarding “collective bargaining agreements [which] almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.”
“His [Infantino’s] Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars,” the UNFP stated.
Looking Forward
As the debate over player welfare and congested schedules continues, the football community is calling for a reevaluation of the international calendar to prioritize the health and well-being of players. The ongoing criticism from managers, unions, and players themselves underscores a growing demand for change in how the sport is managed globally.
With the Club World Cup set to become a regular fixture, the conversation around player welfare is likely to intensify, prompting FIFA and other governing bodies to address these pressing concerns. The football world watches closely to see if these calls for reform will lead to tangible changes in the scheduling and management of international competitions.
