Pep Guardiola Rips Into Premier League’s Grueling Fixture Schedule: Broadcasters Dictate Terms as Clubs Told to ‘Shut Up’ With Money

In the 29-day month of February, Manchester City played 8 games in total! Averaging nearly a game every 3 days, this could have been even more had the defending Premier League champions progressed further in the Carabao Cup. Not ideal considering the intensity of English soccer. But what can the clubs do to protect their players? It is a hopeless situation per Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola!

The Spanish tactician masterminded another successful night in Europe, having dismantled FC Copenhagen 3-1. In the following presser, he shared his views about the demanding fixture intensity for English clubs. Pep Guardiola was asked whether he had spoken to the EPL higher-ups regarding the tight schedule. He replied, “Talk about that with the Premier League?! No way!” As per the Spaniard, this is something out of the Premier League’s reach.

He added, ” It’s not dependent on the Premier League, it’s dependent on the broadcasters.” And Pep Guardiola already knows what the broadcasters are thinking. He said, “And I know the answer, ‘We pay a lot of money, so shut up!’ So, OK.” The EPL is the richest soccer league in the world today and a chief part of that is because of the enormous broadcast revenue received. In the 2022-25 cycle, the league will make a staggering $12.1 billion in media rights revenue alone.

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Just like Pep Guardiola, fellow manager Jurgen Klopp was also strongly against fixture pile-up. But, with the money seemingly in question, it could be hard for the league to act against the broadcasters. How are the demanding fixtures affecting the players? Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne gave his take on the tight fixture list recently.

Like Pep Guardiola, KDB too is not happy having to play ‘every three days’

This season has not been the best for Kevin De Bruyne, as injuries have hampered the Belgian’s progress. However, as per the playmaker, the brutal schedule might have a role in his fitness issues. KDB said, “I don’t think people necessarily understand when you are playing every three days. It’s just, there’s no time to work on other things because you are just going from playing to recovery”.

“I’ve been playing in the European Cup, national team. So I’ve always never had the time to either rest or work on something that I probably needed to work on”, he concluded. Considering the amount of injuries in soccer today, KDB does have a point. His absence from August to January is a major reason why Pep Guardiola & Co. find themselves behind Liverpool in the league.

If Liverpool pip them to the title in the end, then perhaps Pep Guardiola won’t mince his words as much regarding the schedule.

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