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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he sympathises with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp’s criticism of the newly expanded Club World Cup, but the City boss insists he is proud to be competing in the tournament.
Speaking ahead of City’s last-16 clash with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on Monday in Orlando, Guardiola responded to Klopp’s recent comments branding the competition “the worst idea ever implemented in football” due to the already congested fixture calendar.
Klopp, now working in a global football advisory role for Red Bull, voiced his fears about the toll on players’ physical and mental well-being, pointing to limited rest periods and the growing risk of injury.
“We had many battles, Jurgen and I, especially in England,” Guardiola told reporters. “We went to UEFA meetings together and shared similar views about the calendar—we’ve always said that for better football, players and managers need rest. So his opinion doesn’t surprise me. I respect him and understand where he’s coming from.”
Despite acknowledging Klopp’s point, Guardiola maintained that he is fully committed to the competition and proud of his team’s involvement.
“Of course, we follow the rules set by FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League—managers don’t control the schedule,” he said. “But I’ve said it before—I’m proud to be here. A lot of teams complain, but that’s often because they’re not part of it. If they were, they’d have their media here, their fans, their revenue—and they’d be glad to be involved.”
City, who have dominated English football in recent years with six Premier League titles in eight seasons, will be aiming to add another international trophy to their growing collection.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has recently suggested that Arsenal and Liverpool, now under Arne Slot, may have an edge over City next season due to enjoying a summer break while Guardiola’s men are in action in the U.S.
But Guardiola is not allowing such concerns to trouble him. “If I let myself think about that, I’ll just get anxious,” he admitted. “So instead, I’m focused on the good energy we have here, the atmosphere, and competing to win.”
