Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has vented his fury at more fixture congestion as his side prepare to play two games in two days.
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Coach angry about Carabao Cup schedulingCity play Watford two days after Arsenal'When you're fresh it's much better'WHAT HAPPENED?
City have been obliged to play their Carabao Cup tie with Watford on Tuesday September 24, just two days after their crucial Premier League game against Arsenal on September 22.
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Guardiola has been critical of the scheduling of matches within three days of each other and said the concerns over player welfare were being ignored. Last season he complained to Gary Lineker live on television about the fact that City's FA Cup semi-final tie with Chelsea was played on a Saturday, just three days after their Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid. Manchester United's semi-final with Coventry was played on the Sunday despite the Red Devils not being in European action the previous week.
WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
Guardiola said: "We played the Wednesday against Real Madrid in the quarter final with extra time, so why did we play Saturday not Sunday? The broadcasters said no because it was more audience, there was more ratings, no it was completely the opposite. United with the Championship team that did amazing, Coventry, had more audience so if the game is good people will watch it. Why could we not play Sunday? This is difficult for me to understand. They said, the broadcasters, ah we have to defend our product. I said this is not a product. This is my club. These are my players. That is why we were unhappy."
'ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED'
The coach added: "We were absolutely destroyed [vs Chelsea]. I said before the game: 'You are sad and you are tired', and they said: 'Yeah'. We're not going to change that feeling. We were not able to go through against Real Madrid. So we were disappointed. You need need time to process that defeat. But then we played against Chelsea. Why not give me one more day? Why not? That is why I said next season it will happen the same. When they decide they will not think about it. But it is what it is."