Despite raising reservations about an expanded edition of the competition, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the European champions are blessed to be in Saudi Arabia, hoping to win the Club World Cup for the first time.
Guardiola is trying to “close the circle” as manager of the English champions after winning the Champions League for the first time in June.
On Tuesday, City will meet Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals, with the winners facing either Egypt’s Al Ahly or Brazil’s Fluminense in the final on Friday.
“This is Manchester City’s first visit here, and it’s an honor to be here,” Guardiola said at a pre-match press conference in Jeddah.
“We consider it a privilege and an honor to be here.” Being able to sit here and play tomorrow indicates you have done something extraordinary in the past. We must accept it, play a game tomorrow, and earn a spot in the final.”
On Sunday, FIFA finalized revisions to the Club World Cup structure, which would see the championship expand to 32 teams in 2025 and last nearly a month in the United States from June 15 to July 13.
Guardiola has already expressed concern about his players’ well-being as extra matches are jammed into both the club and international calendars.
City’s players had just three weeks off after winning the treble of the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup last season before resuming preseason training with a visit to Asia.
“I am not opposed to new tournaments. I am opposed to the lack of time to heal between years. This is what I’m complaining about,” Guardiola added.
“It doesn’t matter if I play every three days, six days, or seven days; it’s fine with me.” But it is really difficult to conclude the season and then have to begin in three weeks and go to Asia to be financially stable for all the clubs, or go to the States, or wherever.
“It’s extremely difficult for me, but especially for the players, and I believe this should change.” But what happens after you finish the season and travel to the United States for 15 or 20 days to compete in another competition? This is the issue.”
Fans will pay a high price
Last season, City midfielder Bernardo Silva appeared in 67 games for both club and country.
The Portuguese international praised the new Club World Cup structure, but believes that the burden placed on players will eventually harm fans by resulting in fewer intense and lower-quality matches.
“We are not consulted, but we do our best to represent our clubs and national teams.” “The people who pay our salaries and the fans who cheer us on every day,” Silva remarked.
“The reality is that the number of games we have now, and even more with the new competitions, is somewhat insane.” The (lack of) rest that players receive, as well as the chance of injury, increase.
“We cannot complain because we earn a lot of money, but in my opinion, for the people who love the game and are entertained by it, if we have so many games for so long, the games will eventually lose their energy and intensity.”
“The new Club World Cup is a fantastic competition, and it will be great to compete for that title in two years, so no complaints.” However, the charge we have nowadays makes it difficult for us to be fit and perform well all of the time.
“We’re all tired for some games because we’re playing every three days with no rest.” We have no Christmas and nearly no summer, but that is the price you pay for playing for a big team and competing in all competitions. Our ultimate goal was to play at this level.”