SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Pep Guardiola: 'Champions League changes show lack of care for players'

:Headline: Pep Guardiola: 'Champions League changes show lack of care for players':
The number of teams participating in the group stage of the competition will increase from 32 to 36 from 2024.
Sports Mole

Pep Guardiola has accused UEFA of not caring enough about players following its revamp of the Champions League.

The European governing body this week confirmed the number of teams participating in the group stage of the elite club competition will increase from 32 to 36 from 2024.

Changes to the format will also mean all clubs playing at least 10 fixtures rather than the current six.

This news has been almost completely overshadowed by the furore surrounding the ill-fated European Super League, which saw six clubs – including City – attempt to create a breakaway rival competition.

Yet it has not gone unnoticed in the game, with City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan tweeting that he viewed the Champions League changes as merely "the lesser of the two evils in comparison to the Super League".

City manager Guardiola has backed up his player, believing there are already enough games in the calendar.

"Deja vu – every time it's the same," said Guardiola, who was also critical of the Super League concept his club initially signed up to.

"All the managers and players ask for better quality and the football world goes for quantity.

“Of course there will be more injuries. UEFA knows that. Do they care? Absolutely not.”
- Pep Guardiola

"But we are not in charge of that. We have to ask UEFA and FIFA to extend the year, maybe have 400 days a year. Maybe then they can find a solution on that!

"Listen, I'm not an expert about the format of the Champions League. But always (when) we demand, all the managers, to reduce the calendar, have more time to recover the players to enjoy our profession, they do the opposite.

"Of course there will be more injuries. At the end of the day the players play because they love to play, but the injuries come. UEFA knows that, of course they know it. Do they care? Absolutely not."

Guardiola feels such complaints usually fall on deaf ears.

He said: "The Premier League, UEFA, FIFA – we give our opinion but more than that we cannot do anything. It's their business. They decide to do this.

"It's in their hands. If they decide to play 10 more games then there are 10 more games. What can we do? The show must go on. If in the World Cup they play 56 teams we are going to play 56 teams."

Guardiola also did not like the Super League proposals (Rui Vieira/PA)

Guardiola made his feelings clear about the Super League proposals earlier in the week, questioning the sporting merits of a competition in which a core of clubs were guaranteed entry each year, regardless of performance.

Yet with the concept appearing to have collapsed following the withdrawal of most of its teams in response to a huge backlash, Guardiola hopes the sport can now move forward with all clubs treated as equals.

He said: "We cannot deny it is a business. All the teams, all the clubs and all the fans want the best players possible and for that you need good investment.

"But the chapter is over and we focus again. The club made an honest statement, and now we move on. Learn from that.

"We have to change something in the future. Everyone will have the chance to play in the competitions they deserve to play.

"After that the people in charge, the people with wise and smart brains, will think what is the best for future of football. It should be just equality for everyone. When you have equality in human rights and everything, society will be better."

body check tags ::

amp_article__444508 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-23 14:50:32:
html db last update - 2021-04-23 14:49:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Pep Guardiola

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
TH
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Kane, Greenwood, Foden
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Pep Guardiola Ilkay Gundogan Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
PL Team of the Week - Kane, Greenwood, Foden
Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Preview: Waalwijk vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PW

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

4

A'

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

5

BC

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

6

MU

Why Chelsea winger Sterling will relish Burnley game

7

WC

Man Utd, Spurs 'alerted to cut-price fee for in-demand defender'

8

MU

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Record-breaking Arsenal teenager signs first professional contract

10

RA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .