Pep Guardiola has been protesting about having to play the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, having played a home Champions League tie on the Wednesday before. The schedule is ‘unacceptable,’ he is quoted as saying, having to store his players in the fridge,’ to mitigate the tiredness of his players, who don’t face Brighton until Thursday.
When was that? Thursday?
If my memory serves me well, did not Arsenal play away on Wednesday night like Citeh, and kick off a Premier League match on Saturday like Citeh . . . yet will play again two days before Citeh, on Tuesday?
Is travelling from Manchester to Wembley, then having four days off before travelling to Brighton a tougher schedule than returning from Germany, travelling to Wolverhampton with a mere two days until the next game (albeit at home)? Is the Wembley pitch more draining than facing a hostile Wolves crowd and a side that never relents, despite their injury crisis.
Neither schedule is ideal. It’s what happens at this time of the season. And don’t forget Liverpool who, like Arsenal, had a gruelling European away trip followed by two league fixtures, again before Man City kick a ball in the Premier League.
Will anyone benefit? City have had longer to rest and recover and have a ginormous squad, but they are playing catch up. Which is tougher? We’ll only know as each match is played.
I do know that I prefer Arteta’s, ‘Winning is a big boost of energy,’ and other positives compared to Pep’s whinges. Let’s hope the tiredness mantra coming out of the Etihad rubs off on the players.
That just leaves the minor matter of our beating Chelsea, Sp*rz, Bournemouth, Coventry City – oops, no ManUre, and Everton….
Believe!
Richard Smith 22 April 2024