Premier League English

Pep Guardiola wants less football but quality football

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes there’s too much football in English football at the moment, affecting the fitness of the players as a result.

Due to the tight schedule, England forwards Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford have since suffered from injuries.

“I am so sorry for Kane and Rashford because they are good for the league but I am not surprised,” said Guardiola.

More games will be play next year as the Club World Cup will be expanded to 24 teams, including 8 clubs from Europe.

There will be third European competition named UEFA Europa Conference League, kick-off next year alongside Champions League and Europa League.

This is something that many managers including Guardiola, are hardly been supportive.

“Of course it is too much to expect,” said Guardiola. “All the managers complained about it but they [the authorities] don’t care.

“A distance of two or three days again and again. The players suffer. They want to do well and the clubs have a lot of pressure to win or qualify for the Champions League. We push and push. The body says ‘stop’, ‘enough’. With that number of games, the players break down.”

That is why Guardiola is asking the authorities to ease their burden.

“Fewer games, fewer competitions, fewer teams. More quality, less quantity.

“It is to protect the players. I can be tired – and I don’t run. For them they’d enjoy it more, the people too. People can live without football for a while. It’s too much.

“They can go to the theatre, to the cinema, restaurants, to watch the fireworks.”