Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has raised concerns about the intense fixture schedule his team faces this season, particularly with the FIFA Club World Cup adding to their calendar. Speaking ahead of the competition, Guardiola highlighted the possibility that City could end up playing nearly 70 games this season—a schedule he compared to that of the NBA.
“Maybe we go to the FIFA Club World Cup, arriving in the last stages of competitions… and we’re going to play almost 70 games!” Guardiola said. “70 games is like NBA, yeah… but in the NBA, they have four months of holidays, and we have three weeks!”
Guardiola’s comments underline the physical and mental toll such a schedule can take on players, especially with limited rest periods. As City compete on multiple fronts, including the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups, the manager’s remarks add to an ongoing debate about player welfare and the sustainability of modern football’s demands.
