We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice ) for details of your data protection rights
Invalid Email
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called on the English football authorities to scrap the League Cup and reduce the number of fixtures played.
This proposal comes after Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford’s participation at this summer’s European Championships have been placed in doubt after picking up serious injuries over the hectic festive period.
The Tottenham Hotspur star underwent surgery to correct a hamstring problem and might not play again for his club side this season, while the Manchester United forward is facing up to three months on the sidelines with a back injury.
Click to play Tap to play
And Guardiola is of the opinion that these issues have been caused due to the amount of games Premier League clubs are asked to play whilst the most of Europe are enjoying a winter break.
“It’s a big blow for the national team. Kane and Rashford are incredibly important players for them, “Guardiola said, as per the Manchester Evening News. “Hopefully there isn’t another one who does that and they can recover. There are still many months ahead before the Euros.
” It’s an incredible amount of games. Now we’re talking about it because they are (injured), but looking back at the injuries Newcastle have had, we have had, all the teams.
“That is normal. With that number of games, players break down. I’m not surprised. I’m so sorry for them. The big administration people cannot complain because it’s normal this happens.
“Of course it is too much to expect. They arrive in the Euros, playing with the national teams trying their best, then [back with their clubs] after no more than days Because the business, the show, must go on. They have to come back. It’s unsustainable. The players fall down. It’s too much.
“I’m so sorry for Kane and Rashford because they are good for the league, but we demand a lot from the players, it’s too much. They should reflect on it but all the managers complained about it and they don’t care.
Harry Kane signals to the bench that he needs to come off after injuring his hamstring at Southampton (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)
“Now Boxing Day is over, another season, and prepare for the next one. A distance of two or three days again and again. The players suffer. They want to do well and the clubs have a lot of pressure to win or qualify for the Champions League.
“We push and push . The body says ‘stop, it’s enough’.
Guardiola also gave his thoughts on the English fixture schedule and his proposal would affect City, Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League.
His idea is to scrap the Carabao Cup completely.
“But then it wouldn’t be interesting – it’d just be for the Championship teams or League One and League Two, “the Spaniard responded when asked if the League Cup should only be for team below the Premier League.
“Eliminate competitions, take out this competition completely so there are fewer games.
Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on December , (Image: James Baylis – AMA / Getty Images)
“Start the season later after the summer time because you always start with two games and have a lot of games and then in one part of the season have one just game a week, then two or three.
“We are going to rest in February for one week so in three weeks we have two games but then we have games in one week so it’s a bit strange. But the people thought about that.
Read More
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings