Guardiola Expresses Uncertainty Over Club World Cup’s Impact on Manchester City’s League Campaign
Pep Guardiola has voiced his concerns about how Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup might affect their Premier League title race next season. As City prepares to face Al-Hilal in a last-16 match early Tuesday morning, the manager admitted he is unsure whether the tournament could “destroy” their league ambitions.
England manager Thomas Tuchel recently suggested that City’s involvement, along with Chelsea’s, provides a “huge advantage” to rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also criticized the event, calling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football,” citing worries over player welfare.
Despite these external pressures, Guardiola remains focused on rediscovering City’s form after a frustrating 2024-25 season. He stated, “I try to relax, enjoy the days here, and the good vibes we have. The most important thing is to recover and find within ourselves what we were. That’s my main target in this tournament.”
Guardiola emphasized the need for the team to reclaim their competitive edge, reflecting on their successes over the past nine years. “Maybe in November, December, or January it will be a disaster; we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don’t know; it’s the first time in our lives that this has happened. We will see when we come back.”
While acknowledging Klopp’s concerns, Guardiola suggested that grievances about the tournament might stem from jealousy among teams not participating. He remarked, “Once we are here, we are proud. Many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here; otherwise, they might love being here.”
Weather conditions have posed challenges during the tournament, with intense heat and thunderstorms impacting play. Chelsea’s recent victory over Benfica was delayed for nearly two hours due to lightning.
Guardiola humorously remarked, “I am an extraordinary manager, but to control lightning and thunder, I am still not good enough! If we face a similar situation here, I will go inside and we will continue to be active.”
As City gears up for their crucial match against Al-Hilal, all eyes will be on how this tournament unfolds and its potential ramifications for their Premier League aspirations.
