Guardiola: One day less rest than Real Madrid before the Champions League final | international football

In the fight for the English title and with Arsenal in the rearview mirror, the Manchester city It is going through one of the most decisive weeks of the season, dividing attention between the Premier League and the Champions League. And before facing Everton in the National League, coach Pep Guardiola did not hesitate to complain about the calendar and remember that Real Madrid, its rivals in the Champions League semi-finals, will have an extra day of rest before the return match, next Wednesday.

– I do not understand, but I have to cope. I won’t fight anymore. The calendar is what it is. I’m sure Premier wants to help teams. The problem is the calendar and the number of games. “I think we can’t play on Saturday because there is Eurovision (a music event) and there are not enough security forces,” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

Away from the struggle for the national title, Real Madrid will take to the field of the Spanish Championship on Saturday, against Getafe, at 4 pm (Brasilia time). City, in turn, will only play on Sunday, against Everton, at 10 am. In this way, the meringue will have almost a full day of rest before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, on Wednesday, in Manchester, at 4 p.m.

– Now we have five days, only four days later. And tomorrow (Saturday) we will meet the team, talk to the physiotherapists and the coaching staff and decide. We have a lot of games ahead of us – said Pep, escaping comparisons between the Premier League and LaLiga’s stance on clubs ‘helping’ the calendar.

Guardiola preferred not to indicate whether he would spare his key players in the Sunday match, thinking about Real Madrid, and said that Haaland, in principle, would be on the field to participate in the English Premier League. He took the opportunity to congratulate the striker, who was elected England’s Player of the Season, on the traditional award given by the Journalists Association.

– Haaland is fine, he had a very strong game in Madrid and he wouldn’t have been able to play like he did if he was tired. He can rest, but I think he’s fine.

Manchester City takes on Everton on Sunday at 10am (Brasilia time) in Liverpool. And on Wednesday, it will host Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, after drawing 1-1 in the first leg. ge follows the two games in real time.