New wingers, fixture demands and cup finals – Pep Guardiola shines light on ‘difficult’ three weeks | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has explained why Manchester City have earned themselves a crucial four-day break this week after a ‘difficult’ last 21 days across competitions.

The Premier League title chasers have been pushed to their physical and mental limits by an unforgiving calendar of late, as they continue to juggle domestic and cup commitments during a decisive stage of the campaign.

A relentless sequence of matches every few days has left little room for recovery, making the ongoing brief pause in action – thanks to automatic qualification for the Champions League’s last-16 – a rare opportunity to reset before the season’s defining stretch.

Despite the demands, Pep Guardiola’s side have emerged with momentum intact, and progress in knockout competitions and a strong run of league form have ensured Manchester City remain firmly in contention on all fronts.

Speaking after City’s 2-0 win over Salford and ahead of a four-day break handed to his players before preparations begin for their next Premier League clash with Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola addressed recent strains in his squad.

Having previously mentioned the difficulties of the last two to three weeks, Guardiola responded when asked to explain such problems, “Games every three days, three days, three days, three days, the schedule. In the Premier League, if you lose a game, we are out.”

He continued, “So it has been so demanding, especially for the lack of recovery. But players are back, Rodri is playing minutes and no set back. Now we have a long week, players step by step are coming back, Savio has already- Savio’s a… When Savio will learn to make a finished product, in terms of assists, he will be an unbelievable winger, on both sides.

“And [Jeremy] Doku, we know how important he is. And to break teams like Salford, or teams that defend deep, proper guys who have the ability to dribble to drop them, to be there, helps a lot in the way we want to play.”

Despite the issues, Pep Guardiola insisted that he remains more than content with the manner in which the Manchester City squad have competed and behaved across the last few weeks, “I’m more than delighted with how the team behaves, even today the game [against Salford] was not good.

“It’s not necessary to be a manager to realise that it wasn’t good. I had the feeling that I’m really pleased with how we behaved lately. Now take a break, don’t think, but on Wednesday afternoon I want to see you ready, focused to prepare.”

But Pep Guardiola has warned that things must remain laser focussed during a crucial upcoming phase of the season, with every match now acting as a final for the club across four competitions.

“When you arrive in the last three months, three months and a half, the end of the season, with being in competitions, every game is a final,” said Guardiola. “To live that if we lose a game, we’re out. A final is not Carabao Cup just against Arsenal, every single game is a final.

“So we have to live, because now it’s already March, the sky will be more blue, the weather will be better. And everything will be… Our mood will be… In that moment it’s important to be there, and the team will be ready. I know that guys, and I know that we’ll do it well.”

Manchester City’s recent results underline Pep Guardiola’s confidence, as a composed FA Cup victory over Salford City to qualify for the fifth round of the competition followed commanding league performances that have tightened the title race with Arsenal.

A statement comeback win away at Liverpool perhaps showcased the squad’s resilience under pressure most, and attention now turns to the upcoming league meeting with Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.

With key players returning, wingers growing in influence and such players also coming back to the fore, and belief still high within the playing squad, Manchester City know that the margins are tightening, but so too is their focus.