LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns that the Premier League’s tight schedule will affect his team’s chances of knocking defending champions Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
After beating Club Brugge yesterday to qualify for the knockout stages, City were drawn to face the 15-time Champions League champions in the play-offs.
City will host Real in the first leg on February 11 or 12 before travelling to Madrid for the return leg a week later.
However, a busy schedule awaits City throughout February with them facing Arsenal in league action this Sunday, followed by meetings with Newcastle and Liverpool between the return leg against Real.
In addition, City are also scheduled to meet Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup and face Tottenham in league action.
“It’s like a derby, four years in a row against Madrid,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“Could the draw be better? Yes. Bayern Munich is very difficult, Real Madrid is also difficult, we know that.”
Guardiola also expressed dissatisfaction with the Premier League schedule remaining unchanged despite English clubs competing in Europe.
“Usually the Premier League sets the toughest schedule for teams playing in Europe,” he said.
“The problem is not just Madrid or Bayern Munich, but the match with Newcastle in the middle of the schedule.”
When asked if the Premier League should provide better scheduling assistance, Guardiola said: “You’re asking this stupid question again after all these years? Don’t ask me to answer rudely.
“Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have all made the same complaints. Will it change? No. The broadcasters decide, not me.”
This is the fifth time City and Real Madrid have met in two back-to-back legs in the last six seasons.
Last season, Real finished City’s campaign in the quarter-finals, but City beat them in the semi-finals in 2022/23 en route to a first Champions League title.