Guardiola responds after Champions League draw gives Man City a challenging path
February looks set to be a difficult month for the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City’s challenging fixture list “is what it is” after drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout stage.
City will face the La Liga powerhouse for the fourth consecutive year in the competition, with finishing 22nd in the new League Phase making Bayern Munich the only other potential opponent. Alongside this tough tie, City also have matches against Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham in February.
The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to take place just days before Manchester City host Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Guardiola insists his squad is accustomed to such demanding schedules.
“We began [this tough stretch] in Paris, then Chelsea followed,” he explained to the press. “So we’re used to these challenging games. The schedule is what it is.
This always happens in the Premier League, they always set up the hardest [fixtures]. The calendar is always so generous in that way. It’s been this way for many years.
Guardiola went on to elaborate on his thoughts about the fixture list, suggesting that teams in other European leagues may not face similar challenges.