Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola feels that fatigue cannot be used as an excuse as the club chases the quadruple this season. City reached the FA Cup final by beating Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0. However, Manchester City will now enter a very strenuous phase of the campaign where they play at least 9 matches within the next 35 days. The number of matches can also increase provided City advance in the Champions League.
After qualifying for the FA Cup final, City play 4 matches within 11 days, three of which are against Tottenham. Tottenham will be entering Tuesday’s first leg at the back of a six-day long break. However, City will have only a three-day break. While Guardiola thinks the break will be an advantage for Spurs, he has called upon his layers to soldier through any sort of tiredness. The Spaniard said, “Of course, it’s an advantage [for Tottenham] but to fight for everything, you have to overcome that. Spurs have had six days to prepare and we have had two-and-a-half, but when you play this amount of games and win the Carabao Cup, it’s normal.
If we were out of the cup, we would have had more days. Big clubs don’t complain about these situations. We are enjoying it a lot. We have already succeeded – it’s an incredible season for us. I know we will be judged on the titles we win but this season already is incredible. I’ve said many times in press conferences that it’s almost impossible [to win the quadruple]. We are surviving and we will see. Believe me, I am not focusing on it. If and when we lose, I will say to the players that they are my heroes. It’s incredible what they have done so far.”
