Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes teams with 40 men can be the only way to cope with the demands of the football calendar, but says he will take the clubs to bankruptcy.
City are one of the many parties, including Tottenham and Arsenal, who have become bold from injuries this season, with defender Manuel Akanji the latest player to be avoided after news of the season’s hamstring injury in Kai Havertz.
Akanji is facing up to 10 weeks outside after exploding his abductor during the loss of Tuesday’s Champions League to Real Madrid. Guardiola thinks that the injuries that affect so many sides are a direct consequence of the ever -expanding schedule.
“I always expect injuries during the season. Not as much as we had, but it’s not just a problem for Man City,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s Premier League clam with Newcastle on Saturday.
“You see the same in Tottenham, Arsenal now, most teams besides Liverpool that the whole season has been so stable in those terms. Real Madrid too. Many teams.
“What is what happens when gathering the season by season. It is like what happened to Manu (Akanji), the body says,” It’S’s enough. “
“The solution to prevent it? I think Jurgen Klopp and I myself have said it in the past. It is calendar. I see no other reason why there are many injuries.”
Guardiola rejected the suggestion that reducing the number of clubs in the Premier League could be a solution.
“It won’t happen that there are fewer Premier League games,” he said. “The Carabao Cup will continue.
“The only solution is to have 40 players in the squad. It is impossible. Bankruptcy for clubs. How do you keep 40 salaries and transfers? It is impossible.”
Manuel Akanji suffered his injury against Real Madrid
Manchester City damage problems this season began with Rodri, cutting his anterior knee junction ligament in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September and contributed to their weak campaign.
In addition to deceiving their internal and European commitments this season, they face the prospect of traveling to the United States to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup between June and July.
“It’s a big question mark,” Guardiola said when asked what kind of team would be able to get in that tournament.
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Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic expressed his disappointment after their 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League
“I would like to give you an answer, but I don’t know. A big question, but I would say not a positive feeling because we are in the position we are, like many, many clubs.
“My analysis is so simple. The body speaks for itself, and says,” It’a enough. “You might say,” give me heart! “But the body says’ no, no more, I have to rest, otherwise I’ll hurt.” “
Guardiola used Kevin de Bruyne as an example of a player trying to manage the schedule.
“Kevin was one of the players who played more games for eight or nine years, playing every three days and making a tremendous effort with distances, physics, running, attacking channels with Fernandinho and Rodri passing him.
Kevin de Bruyne’s minutes had to be managed this season
“He can do it, but now he is (33) years old and he is coming from a five-month injury last season. It’s not the same. Because the body was injured for five months.
“When that happens, I go on vacation, but players go to the national team, to play a World Cup, or the new UEFA competition made in the season (UEFA Nations League).
“It’s not about managers or physics. Just just the amount of games. Bodies say,” I’m tired. “
‘Who will get 100 points or win four in a row? I’m waiting … ‘
Guardiola was unclear about the topic of city battles this year, insisting that the record standards set by him in previous years will be impossible for each party to be repeated as the Premier League level continues to increase.
“What I have told many times to the players and the club is that in nine years we have had only three months really, really bad,” he said.
“So when people say,” Ah pep, what happened? “I say, ‘No, no, what THERE It happened! ‘This is the problem. This is not normal. Not now or in the past.
“Who will make 100 points now, in modern football? I’m waiting. Or four (main leagues) in a row? I’m waiting. With Bournemouth, with Fulham, Wolves …
“I asked Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) yesterday,” two years ago you were here, you were a year in Barcelona and now return here a year. Did something change in the Premier League? “He said, ‘massively’.
Ilkay Gundogan and Mohamed Salah in action
“I said,“ Was it different in just one year? “And he said, ‘incredible’.
“Have you seen Liverpool this season? They can’t make 100 points already. Ninety -nine but not 100. And look at the season they have made.
“It’s not an argument to defend what we have done in the last three months. Many things have happened. But that puts it in perspective.
“What we did in the past is not repetitive. It will be so difficult to be so consistent for many, many years and now we understand that. I could expect a decline, but not as much as it is now.
“Then reality. We have to accept it. We have to accept criticism and bad moments. Can what can you do? Cry?
“When we were 1-0 or 2-0 in the past, opponents were not even close; not in our box, in the line of half. Now, we are not good with that. We take risks and make mistakes that are not common for this team.
“We are in the position we are in because we are not good enough. If Madrid heal from the two goals we give, this is because we are not good enough. Accept it and go ahead.”
