Pep Guardiola says the 13 Premier League teams who are not competing in Europe this season have an advantage over the seven teams who are. City are one of four English teams competing in the Champions League, with three midweek fixtures in as many weeks before the November international break, and three immediately after. The same goes for the three clubs in the Europa League, meaning players are facing at least two games a week – including during the international break – between the beginning of the season and the New Year And speaking ahead of the Premier League trip to West Ham, with just two full days between the evening kick-off against Porto on Wednesday and the lunchtime kick off at the London Stadium on Saturday, Guardiola said playing in Europe will be a disadvantage this year.
Pep Guardiola said “All the teams playing in Europe have the same problem, The schedule is crazy for everyone. I don’t know, I would like to answer you but three, four games in a row maybe I decide to use the same squad and other ones I make four or five changes. Right now the day before I don’t know my selection. We play tomorrow at 12.30, not much recovery. The guys train well and tonight we decide. There are niggles in some players, some coming back. Some come back immediately and others need time. Definitely [there is a disadvantage], this league is so difficult,” he explained. “The guys who have seven, eight days between games have more time to prepare. On the other side we are competing for titles and this is how we have to live. I don’t know. It’s too early to know it. It looks like there are unexpected results, but the situation is all over the world not just in this bubble. In our normal lives you cannot go out as usual in the restaurants and that is a problem so everyone takes influence in the games. It’s only four games. I think before I came here the history of the Premier League speaks for itself. It’s the most open league in the world. The last two seasons, two teams dominate the league with a big, big gap between the other ones is an exceptional season for this league. The normality will be back this season.”
