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Pep Guardiola says the 13 Premier League teams not competing in Europe this season have an advantage over the seven teams that are.
City are one of four English teams competing in the Champions League, with three midweek games in the same weeks before the international break in November and three immediately after. The same goes for the three Europa League clubs, which means that players face at least two games a week, including during the international break, between the start of the season and the New Year.
Guardiola has previously spoken about the impact this schedule has on his players, and has already had to deal with injuries to 13 first-team players this season. In defense, for example, Guardiola has lined up seven different center-back pairs in the seven games already played.
And speaking ahead of the Premier League trip to West Ham, with just two full days between the start of the night against Porto on Wednesday and the start of lunch at the London Stadium on Saturday, Guardiola said that playing in Europe will be a disadvantage this year. .
“All the teams that play in Europe have the same problem,” he said, when asked how he chooses a team with so many games to manage.
“The schedule is crazy for everyone. I don’t know. I’d like to answer you but three, four games in a row, maybe I decide to use the same squad and in others I make four or five changes.
“Right now the day before I don’t know my selection. We play tomorrow at 12.30, there is not much recovery. The boys train well and tonight we decide. There are problems in some players, some return. Some return immediately and others need time.”
Guardiola was pressured to broaden his thoughts on the advantages of a team with a week to prepare for the games, but accepted that this is the price that City has to pay if it wants to compete for titles.
“Insurance [there is a disadvantage], this league is so difficult, “he explained.” Guys who have seven or eight days between games have more time to prepare. On the other hand we are competing for titles and this is how we have to live ”.
This season has already seen many high-scoring games and surprising results, some related to City, and Guardiola offered his thoughts on how the global pandemic and lack of fans in stadiums has affected the season so far.
He said: “I don’t know. It’s too early to tell. There seem to be unexpected results, but the situation is all over the world, not just in this bubble. In our normal lives you can’t go out as usual in restaurants and that’s a problem for everyone to influence games, it is only four games.
“I think before coming here, the history of the Premier League speaks for itself. It is the most open league in the world. The last two seasons, two teams dominate the league with a big, big gap between each other, it’s a season exceptional for this league. Normality will return this season. “
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