Guardiola critical of Manchester City schedule ahead of Brentford
13/09/2024
CGA, Manchester, UK
13/09/2024
CGA, Manchester, UK
Category
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00:00Good afternoon guys, hope you're all staying positive, we'll take a show of hands, we've
00:12set an embargo part way through for 10.30 this evening.
00:16You've said before that you want the issues the club are facing to be dealt with as quickly
00:29as possible, it looks as though we believe the case starts on Monday, have you got a
00:36view and will you be glad when it's all over?
00:41Start soon, hopefully finish soon, independent panel will decide, looking forward to the
00:50decision.
00:52Can I just ask you another technical question, during the international break you were told
00:59you would have to play your League Cup game against Watford on a Tuesday night, two days
01:05after you play Arsenal, you've always been a manager that's taken the League Cup very
01:09seriously, what implications does that future schedule have on you and how you'll approach
01:16the competition?
01:17It's going to happen many cases, it's going to happen many, many times, this kind of situation
01:22for the teams to play in all competitions, so they give an alternative to play on Thursday
01:28away in London, to have more days, but I have a Saturday game in Newcastle and we prioritise
01:37of course to have more rest for Newcastle and we're going to play on Tuesday, because
01:43we cannot play on Wednesday, apparently it should be, because on Thursday play United
01:50Europa League and for the police it's not accepted, but it's going to happen many times,
01:55and when someone's going to create a new competition it will be even worse.
02:01Can I ask you about Nathan Ake and how he is after his injury?
02:04Injured.
02:06How severe is it?
02:07I think it will be until next international break.
02:10How much of a blow is that to lose Nathan for that period?
02:13We are unlucky with Nathan, we're a national team, every time he goes there he's come back
02:16injured.
02:19Can I ask you about Renford please as well, because they are the last team to win at the
02:24Etihad Stadium nearly two years ago, how have you been able to do that as a club?
02:30I don't remember against Thomas Frank's team, a person who I admire unbelievably, so I don't
02:36remember an easy game against Renford, never ever, since we were promoted in a Premier League
02:41and I don't remember.
02:43Always have been tough here and there, so we're an exception.
02:47They changed a bit the shape, I've had the feeling that play a little more the player
02:54style when it was in the Championship, when the motor process before when I've been told
02:59it was maybe more direct, they can do it, because they have fast players, strong players
03:04up front, but they have a really, really good process in the build-up, the high pressing
03:10is unbelievable, it's man to man, so aggressive, in attack and defence, so tight, so compact,
03:17really well organised in the transition set-pieces, it's a complete, complete team.
03:21I don't remember, we have played already many, many years and many times and always have
03:27been so difficult.
03:28I had the feeling tomorrow we're going to be an exception.
03:30And like I say, the unbeaten run as well, nearly two years now, Renford the last time
03:34to a point, what do you think has been the most important aspect of that run for you?
03:39How have you been able to do it as a team?
03:42So the last time we lost here was against Renford?
03:44Nearly two years ago.
03:45Oh, God.
03:49Sorry.
03:50Yeah, you should avoid it.
03:55That means how good we have done it.
03:56That means how good we have done it.
03:57It's more than two years, we didn't lose a game here, that's good.
04:03Good afternoon.
04:04Just to go back to the commission of starts, it's debating and everything next week.
04:09Can I just ask you, everybody in football seems to be keen to find out what's good about
04:15the eventual outcome.
04:16What about yourself and the players?
04:18I mean, it's their work that ultimately would be in danger.
04:23Is there a feeling amongst the players, can you give us anything about whether you or
04:28the players have talked about it?
04:30No.
04:31Or is concerned about it?
04:32I'm not a lawyer.
04:33There are many lawyers in this country, in Spain.
04:37There are many lawyers, but I wait.
04:41We are going to wait and we are going to see.
04:44Is it talked about in the dressing room?
04:46No.
04:48I'm sad, we are not lawyers.
04:50Erling is not a lawyer, no.
04:52So, we didn't talk about that.
04:53We are going to have an independent panel and we are going to set the sentence.
04:58What about everybody around the club, not just the players?
05:01I don't talk about them.
05:02I don't talk about them, about that.
05:06We'll see.
05:07I'm happy that it started on Monday and I know there will be more rumours and new specialists
05:13about the sentences that come up.
05:16We are going to see.
05:17I know what the people are looking for, I know what they are expecting, I know it.
05:21What I read for many, many years, but I'm sad.
05:27Everybody is innocent and the guilt is proven.
05:30So, we'll see.
05:32You mentioned Erling.
05:33Can I just ask you about whether he is likely to be featuring this weekend?
05:35There's been a lot of talk about him being offered the chance of compaction.
05:39Can you give us any information about whether he might feature this weekend?
05:44It was a tough moment for him and his family.
05:47It was sad, sad news.
05:50He's a close person.
05:51Him and his family, he's 59 years old.
05:54Our thoughts, of course, are with him and all his family.
05:58It's sad.
05:59We'll see tomorrow if he's able mentally and physically to play.
06:10Surely the logic behind the absurd fact that you have to play two games within 49 hours
06:17is that they think the game has to grow each season.
06:21People ask you of the more and more games, but surely there is a limit to that.
06:25What do you think that will be?
06:27Don't ask me that question.
06:31It's going to happen more and more.
06:33So, it's impossible to fix all the schedules and calendars and teams are home and away and everything.
06:39So, it's normal.
06:43It's normal to happen.
06:45People say, with the players and managers, in the morning they complain.
06:50It's not about the health.
06:52The doctors especially say the body has to recover at least four or five days.
06:57So, we did a three and out two.
07:01People say, yeah, but...
07:02No, we will do our job anyway.
07:06We will do our job anyway.
07:07With the salaries or less salaries, we will do our job because we love to do it.
07:10It doesn't matter.
07:12But, yeah, we play tonight in the Champions League against Arsenal on Sunday.
07:20It's not an easy game, I would say.
07:22And after two days later, we have to do it.
07:25And I prefer to play at home because the draw was like this.
07:28I'm going on Thursday to London.
07:29I prefer my fans, our people, to watch his team, a lovely team, an adorable team, at home.
07:34So, that's why I decided to play on Tuesday.
07:38Because on Thursday, after that, I have to recover.
07:40But after that, I have to recover to go to Newcastle.
07:54First, because I'm not a specialist about the calendars or the fixtures or the competitions.
07:58I'm not here to create the competitions or get rid of competitions in the schedules.
08:03It depends on them.
08:05You ask me, I answer.
08:06I said many times, we're not going to change.
08:08The meetings are useless.
08:10They decide to do it, we're going to do it.
08:12On Tuesday, we'll be there.
08:13Hopefully, we can select two teams and be fit and no injuries and don't make energy.
08:19But everybody knows the schedule will be tight this season.
08:21Accept it and go on.
08:23So, at the end, it will not be a problem.
08:26So, it's where it is.
08:33Yeah, they're good, they train.
08:34Really good.
08:37Al?
08:50There's a question for him.
08:51I wish him and, of course, USA, like I have friends there.
08:57The best of luck.
08:58I know he's a top-class manager, an experienced manager.
09:02And, you know, he decided to go.
09:05USA is fascinating to try to build a project for many years.
09:11Able to get the national team next step.
09:15Because the potential in USA is there for the amount of people and sports and so on.
09:21So, yeah.
09:23He decided because it's the best for him.
09:32Hopefully not.
09:35But, I don't know, we have 20 players available and can do it.
09:39I don't know.
09:40But, yeah, I don't want to make on Tuesday, try to play, you know, play the play against Arsenal and play there.
09:49I will try to avoid it.
09:50But, hopefully, we can be fit and no injuries.
09:53And the guys who didn't play in Arsenal are going to play against Watford.
09:55That's for sure.
10:02We've worked around the internationals as well.
10:04Do you see the benefit of the players that have had that rest?
10:07Erling Haaland, for instance, he looks a lot sharper this season as well.
10:11Is the schedule getting too much now?
10:13Yeah, the people who have rest.
10:14Because, you know, the rest for physically is there mentally.
10:16So, when you have a game, you have so much stress in here.
10:19The adrenaline and everything.
10:21You're playing with 65,000, 70,000 people.
10:24You want to perform well.
10:26You don't make a ridiculous performance and make your team down.
10:31And that's why sometimes it's not…
10:34You are tired.
10:35It's OK.
10:36Today I don't play.
10:37A little bit breathe, you know.
10:38Of course, for Erling, it's good.
10:39But, I said, it started really well.
10:41But, now, I said before, after the game against West Ham, the season starts this weekend.
10:47Before, it was like a pre-season still.
10:49We arrived late.
10:50It's one game a week.
10:51Coming to shield.
10:52One game a week.
10:53We have time to, you know, to training, to prepare things, remember things.
10:56So, now, the real season, the recovery is right now.
10:59And now, we'll see.
11:00We'll see how we behave.
11:02How the people recover.
11:03And their players recover really quicker than the other ones.
11:06So, yeah, we'll see.