Pep Guardiola responds to Man City fixture nightmare after worst-case scenario draw

Manchester City volition look Real Madrid successful the Champions League play-off, adding to a daunting tally of Premier League fixtures for Pep Guardiola's side

Pep Guardiola claims helium sees nary constituent moaning astir Manchester City’s huffy February due to the fact that the schedules person ever been brainsick successful England.

City person drawn Real Madrid successful the Champions League past 16 for the 4th successive play and they indispensable look the holders arsenic good arsenic Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool successful February.

“The docket is what it is,” said the City boss. “In the Premier League each squad has to play everyone, but it usually happens present successful the Premier League, ever they person the toughest schedules for the European teams astatine the toughest stages.

“It’s pugnacious playing against Real oregon Bayern and the occupation is, successful the middle, playing Newcastle. They are ever truthful benignant with the calendar! For many, galore years it has ever happened that way.”

Guardiola claims the docket was gruelling for Premier League sides agelong earlier helium arrived astatine the Etihad.

“For many, galore years earlier I came here, it’s ever been similar that,” helium said. “So it’s not complaining due to the fact that you had unthinkable occurrence dealing with this calendar.

“Always it has been similar that and we judge it. I’m not complaining due to the fact that we won the treble and quadruple doing it similar that.

“I said galore times successful the past, past season, we played the quarter-finals against Madrid and 3 days aboriginal we had the FA Cup semi-final astatine Wembley erstwhile we could person had much days. It’s ever been similar that.

“And we past and we don’t past due to the fact that Madrid is better, due to the fact that the opponents are better.

“But the calendar, I retrieve erstwhile I was successful Barcelona training, and I followed the Premier League due to the fact that it is the astir charismatic league successful the world and Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger made the aforesaid complaints.

“So present you cannot inquire maine astir the calendar due to the fact that it’s from a long, agelong clip ago.”

Guardiola says different leagues person ever helped their teams successful Europe, specified arsenic Portugal and France. “The broadcasters decide,” helium said. “They don’t inquire maine if it’s amended to play connected a Tuesday oregon Wednesday to person 1 much day.

“There are leagues that play connected the Friday earlier the Champions League. They play connected the Friday successful Portugal, they play connected the Friday successful France to person 1 much time than here.

“It’s ever been similar that, truthful it’s not a problem. Because you asked me, truthful it is what it is. It’s fine, it’s fine.

“It’s nary astonishment erstwhile I spot the calendar is what it is due to the fact that present the Premier League is overmuch much important than different competitions.”

Guardiola joked Madrid is similar a derby for City and this volition beryllium the ninth and 10th clip the Blues person played them nether him.

“It looks similar a derby already, 4 years successful a enactment facing Madrid,” helium said. “So Madrid oregon Bayern, some were truly pugnacious and hopefully we tin arrive, archetypal limb present and past 1 week aboriginal successful Madrid, arsenic champion arsenic possible.”

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