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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lashed out over the tight schedule and fixture pileup the Cityzens are set to face in the coming weeks. They have a match against Brentford today (September 14) at the Etihad Stadium, which will be the first of many in quick succession.
Their next match comes four days later, on September 18, when they host Inter Milan in the Champions League. Next weekend (September 22), they face Arsenal at home, before facing Watford in the Carabao Cup just two days later. This particular situation is a cause for concern for Guardiola.
With Manchester United facing FC Twente at Old Trafford on September 25, City's game at the Etihad against Watford had to be pushed up. If both games were to happen on the same day, the police would be unable to cover crowd control efficiently.
However, Pep Guardiola is not too pleased about the situation, as he complained ahead of the Brentford clash (via Mirror):
“They gave us an alternative [to play at Watford on Wednesday], to have more days. But we have a Saturday game in Newcastle and we prioritize, of course, to have more rest for Newcastle."
“So we’re going to play on Tuesday, because we couldn't play on Wednesday, when it should be, because United play in the Europa League and the police won’t accept it."
The Manchester City boss added:
“It's going to happen more and more. It's impossible to fix all the schedules and calendars. People say that players and managers, with the money, shouldn't complain, but it's not about that, it’s about their health."
“We will do our job anyway - with this salary or less salary - because we love to do it, but we play Arsenal on Sunday - not an easy game I would say - and two days later we have to do it against Watford."
He concluded:
“I’m not a specialist on the calendars or fixtures and the competitions, but we’re not going to change, the meetings are useless. If they decide they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it."
“We will do it on Tuesday, hopefully we can select two teams and be fit and have no injuries but everyone knows the schedule will be tight this season.”
Pep Guardiola will hope he can lead Manchester City to another Premier League title - their fifth consecutive one, while pushing for other trophies.
What is Manchester City's fixture schedule like?
After the Watford game on September 24, Manchester City have a match against Newcastle United on September 28. This is quickly followed by an away trip to Slovan Bratislava on October 1.
With another match against Fulham on October 5, the Cityzens will play seven games in three weeks, before the international break arrives. After the international break, they play Wolves on October 20, and have another six games until the November international break.
Manchester City will hope they can use their squad depth effectively enough to limit any injury concerns, with the Premier League season now in full swing. They also have to keep their squad fresh for continental games throughout the first half of the season, as they look to enter the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
