Pep Guardiola Warns Club CUP “can destroy” teams in 2025-26 season

Pep Guardiola admits that it is concerned about the potential losses that have been expanded Club World Cup His team can take Manchester City, although he continued to admit a feeling of pride in the competition.

The city is scheduled to face Hillaal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday in its first step towards reaching the final. The team was already in the United States for more than two weeks, and if it went along the way, the journey may extend near a whole month.

With the 2025-26 Premier League season, which starts on August 15, Guardiola admitted that he was not sure of the impact of the summer campaign extending on his players.

“After this, let’s see what is happening,” Guardiola said. “Let’s see what is happening after the final. We can rest and take the time when the Premier League allowed us to rest and then we will see.

“Perhaps in November, December, or January, it will be a disaster, you have exhausted us and destroyed the World Cup. I don’t know, but this is the first time in our lives that happens.

“I think in the past that the players played in the World Cup or European championships for their national teams, so sometimes it happens. You need a mental comfort sometimes, you can recover and then we will see when we go back.”

One of the biggest criticisms of the expanded championship came from former Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp, who recently called the new coordination “a meaningless competition” and warned that it might lead to “unprecedented injuries.”

Now in a non-trained role as Red Bull World Football President, Klopp’s warnings resonated with fears of others in the game-Guardiola, although he is still competing, has seen health in them.

“The worst idea was implemented in football.” 🫠

PEP responds to Klopp comments about the club’s World Cup …#BCFOTBALL pic.twitter.com/kwovxzmow

Today’s match (BBCMOTD) June 30, 2025

“Listen, I fought a lot with Juergen several times,” Guardiola said.

“I know where his idea comes from. His comments (in the club’s World Cup) did not surprise me much. I understand him. I respect him. Now, retract this position (as a manager) and I understand his argument, because I will defend his argument as well.”

However, Guardiola also suggested that criticism of some circles may be jealous due to City’s presence in this event.

“As managers, we do not organize competitions. Once we are here, we are proud. Many teams complain of these competitions because they are not here; otherwise, they may like to be here.

“They will have the media and their supporters here, and there will be an income to be here and they will be happy with their presence here.

“Of course, this is not an ideal position for the manager. Do I like to spend two months to prepare for the next season? Yes. Do you like to be updated for the next season? Yes.

“But this is what it is. We deserve what we did in the past to be here. Once we are here, let’s do our best.”