We want a busy schedule, says Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says his players want the busy schedule coming up over the next few months to be able to fight for silverware.

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The 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday was the first of 14 matches in the space of 49 days – depending on the date of our third round FA Cup clash.

City play two Champions League games during that time, beginning with our home clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday at 20:00 (UK).

With 10 of those games in the Premier League and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford, the City boss says the squad want matches to give us a chance of silverware.

“We’re used to it – we’ve won quadruples and trebles playing that way,” Guardiola said.

“We want it. The trebles and quadrupes [came from] playing on Saturday and Tuesday, then Tuesday and Friday and Friday and Sunday. We are used to it. It’s not a problem.”

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The run didn’t start as we hoped with a narrow defeat in a rollercoaster game at St James’ Park.

Both teams created plenty of chances in a thrilling encounter and Guardiola explained why it was such a physical battle.

“The team was good and we know the way [Newcastle] play with intense play and you have to handle it,” he said. “They had the momentum and it happens like that.

“Second half we adjusted a little bit and the midfield players were closer. They were more in the positions where we need to do it.

“This type of game is so, so physical. You win the ball, you lose the ball, you win the ball, you lose the ball.

“Bruno Guimaraes made a good action, showing his quality and they scored a goal. After that they have the momentum in a corner and it happened and we could not get a goal.

“Then they had 11 players in the box and always it’s difficult.”