Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has lamented his team’s hectic schedule, with the Spaniard claiming physios were needed on 71 occasions following the club’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid in Spain.
It’s been a busy week for the Citizens, with a Premier League meeting against Liverpool on April 10, followed by a trip to the Spanish capital three days later, then another clash with the Reds in the FA Cup soon after.
And Guardiola says that he was approached by medical staff who informed him of an “abnormal” amount of treatment being required as a result of the busy schedule.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of City’s league match with Brighton on Wednesday, Guardiola said: “Our physios, they made 71 treatments in the space between Atletico Madrid and the semi-final of the FA Cup – 71 treatments. It’s true, the doctor came to me.
“They came to tell me because it was unusual, it was abnormal. In the hotel after Atletico Madrid, in the morning, before the training session, after the training session, the day of the [semi-final] game. And it wasn’t just one or two, it was a lot of players.
“The schedule is what it is. At Millwall [City’s training base for the cup semi-final] we had six massage tables by the side of the pitch for players – they watched those who didn’t play in Madrid train.”
City saw the possibility of winning a domestic cup this season fade away like the morning dew following a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the semi-final clash of the FA Cup on Sunday.
With City still in contention for Champions League and England’s top tier glory, it appears there is still pressure on the side that won the Premier League last season as they trail Liverpool by one point following a 4-0 bashing of Manchester United on Tuesday.
