Pep Guardiola Compares Football Schedule to NBA, Criticizes Lack of Recovery Time
Manchester City Manager Warns of Increased Injuries Amid Grueling Fixture List
Pep Guardiola has likened the relentless football calendar to the NBA schedule, criticizing the lack of adequate recovery time for players. Manchester City is currently managing a packed fixture list, which saw them suffer their first Premier League defeat to Bournemouth and exit the Carabao Cup against Tottenham. Guardiola acknowledged that he has “no choice but to handle it,” yet expressed concern over the toll on his squad, especially with FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup extending play through June and July 2025.
Guardiola’s Comments
Reflecting on the intense season, Guardiola stated:
“We’re going to play more than 70 games, like the NBA, but the NBA has four months off, while we only get three weeks. The intense scheduling stems from previous seasons building upon one another. This inevitably leads to long-term injuries.”
Despite the challenges, Guardiola emphasized the importance of adjusting training sessions to ensure his team is as prepared as possible for each game, noting that managing player fitness under such conditions has become part of the new norm.
