Fixture pile-up no excuse for Manchester City in English Premier League title race: Pep Guardiola

LONDON – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists they cannot use their gruelling schedule as an excuse if they fail to win the English Premier League title.

Guardiola’s second-placed side are six points behind leaders Arsenal but have played two games fewer heading into the final weeks of the season.

Their title bid could be hampered by a fixture pile-up, after their clashes with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were given new dates either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Those matches needed to be moved because of City’s progress in both domestic cups, but the new schedule means they need to play three times in the space of seven days from May 13 to 19.

The League Cup winners’ EPL title charge concludes against Aston Villa on May 24.

City were reportedly unhappy when the fixtures were confirmed, particularly because they felt the Palace game – originally slated for March – could have been re-arranged earlier.

But Guardiola has accepted the situation as an inevitable consequence of being successful in English football.

“It is what it is. When we won the treble and quadruple, we always had this kind of calendar,” the City manager told reporters on May 1.

“Of course, it could be better but I’ve never expected help. We’ll do that and go game by game.

“If you don’t like it, go and train in France or Portugal. I like being here, and I’ve said many times, when I was at Barcelona and saw managers here complain about the schedule, it has always been like this.”

City are chasing their seventh Premier League crown of the Guardiola era, as they seek to take advantage if Arsenal do stumble late in the title race again.

The Gunners blew substantial leads that allowed the Citizens to lift the trophy in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

The Everton game on May 4 will be City’s 55th of the season and the first of their two in hand, in a title race so tight it could be decided by goal difference or goals scored.

“It’s normal, it’s the calendar. Sometimes you play first, sometimes behind,” Guardiola said of playing after Arsenal, who beat Fulham 3-0 on May 2.

“It is what it is and nothing changes at this stage – you know exactly what you have to do.”

Guardiola said he did not even know what time Arsenal were playing when asked if he would be watching their game against Fulham.

“What time do they play? It’s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it,” said the 55-year-old.

Everton, meanwhile, are in the battle for a European spot as they sit 11th on 47 points.

On challenging for European football, manager David Moyes said: “The players aren’t used to it. But it’s a better feeling than trying to avoid relegation. Hopefully we keep improving and challenge the best teams.

“Players want to play in the Premier League but they also want to be involved in European football. We’ve been close this year, top end of the league. We struggled to attract players in the summer because they want European football,” he added. AFP