Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City's congested fixture schedule is a sign of their success, even as he took a swipe at the Premier League over the demanding run-in. City face three Premier League matches and the FA Cup final in a gruelling 12-day period that will determine their season.
Title race and cup final
City trail Arsenal by five points with three games remaining, while the Gunners have two left. Guardiola's side host Crystal Palace on Wednesday before travelling to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday. They then conclude their league campaign with matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
The scheduling of the rearranged fixtures against Palace and Bournemouth has caused frustration at the Etihad. Guardiola's sarcastic remarks hinted at his displeasure, though he accepted the situation.
“We don't think about the ‘generosity’ of the Premier League. As always they have been really nice for this schedule!” Guardiola said. “But it is what it is. We accept. I always said, if you don't play the final of the FA Cup, you will not have this schedule. So we are in the final, you have this schedule.”
Champions League absence
City were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Real Madrid, meaning they have a lighter schedule than in recent years when they competed deep into that competition. Guardiola admitted he would prefer to still be in Europe.
“I would love to have the schedule of being in the Champions League semi-final in the middle of the title race,” he said. “When we won the treble or quadruple we were there in that dynamic. So it's really nice.”
Taking all competitions seriously
Despite the packed schedule, Guardiola insists he will never prioritise one competition over another. He has instilled a winning mentality at the club since his arrival a decade ago.
“The competitions, knockout stages, it's like life or death – it's nice. It's like now at the end of the season,” Guardiola said. “I've tried with my staff since I arrived 10 years ago, to make this club, when you play the first game in the pre-season, in Asia or America or wherever, think we have to win.”
He added: “We have to try to win, not choose competitions, games, anything. We have to, all of us, inoculate in our bodies that we have to do our best every game for respect of our people, respect for the job. All of us are incredibly well paid – we have to do it.”
