Pep Guardiola has reportedly admitted fears ahead of the 2025-26 season following Manchester City’s ongoing FIFA Club World campaign.
There were three weeks between the conclusion of the Premier League season and the start of City’s campaign in the United States. Last season, the 2022-23 treble winners went trophyless for the first time since Guardiola’s first season in England.
City will have a month to get ready for their new league campaign, which starts on August 16, if they advance to the final on July 13. The club will play Al-Hilal in Orlando on Monday night in the round of 16.
According to The Evening Standard, Guardiola advised reporters to question him about the impact later in the year since he was unsure of how much his team would be affected by the Club World Cup.
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“I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us,” he added. “I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened. So we’ll see.”
Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football’s worst idea.
“Jurgen, we fought together many, many times… when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest,” Guardiola said.
“So his comments didn’t surprise me a lot … I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well.”
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