- Guardiola fears Club World Cup may destroy Manchester City’s season
- City started the tournament just three weeks after the Premier League ended
- The manager echoed Klopp’s criticism of the expanded 32-team format
Key Takeaways:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his team is getting before the start of the new Premier League season and said that participating in the Club World Cup could “destroy” them.
🎙️| Pep Guardiola on Jurgen Klopp’s dislike towards the Club World Cup:
“We fought many times… It didn’t surprise me. I understand him and respect him…”
“His argument, I would defend it. At the same time, we are in a job and follow it…” 🗣️‼️ pic.twitter.com/1rP5uHUw7F
— City HQ (@City_HQs) June 29, 2025
City finished last season in England on May 25 and began their campaign in the Club World Cup in Philadelphia a little over three weeks later, on June 18.
The Citizens face Al-Hilal in Orlando tonight in the round of 16, and if they reach the final on July 13, they will have just one month to prepare for the start of the new league campaign, which begins on August 16.
Guardiola admitted that he does not know how much the Club World Cup will exhaust his squad and told journalists to ask him about the impact later this year.
“I might say, listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us. I don’t know, this is the first time in our lives. We’ll see,” he added.
Guardiola said he understands the remarks made by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who had criticised the expanded 32-team Club World Cup — which will be held every four years during the preseason — as the worst idea in football.
“His comments didn’t surprise me much. I understand his arguments, because I think the same way,” concluded the Spaniard.