December 15th 2024.
In light of Chelsea's recent success, Pep Guardiola is encouraging Man City to take a page from their opponent's book and consider expanding their squad size. The City manager believes that Chelsea's deep roster has given them a significant advantage this season. As City prepares for an important derby against Manchester United, they currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League, a whole nine points behind Liverpool who drew 2-2 with Fulham on Saturday.
This has been a difficult season for Guardiola, as his team has faced a string of defeats and injuries. In fact, City has only seen one win in their last ten games across all competitions. One of their key players, Rodri, has been greatly missed in the midfield due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out for most of the season. In comparison, Chelsea has been thriving under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, winning their last six games in all competitions. Maresca has effectively utilized the full depth of his squad, making strategic changes for their Conference League matches and allowing players like Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo, and Cole Palmer to rest between Premier League games.
Guardiola believes that City should follow Chelsea's blueprint next season, but also acknowledges the challenges of the hectic football schedule. He points to Rodri's injury, questioning why a player who played 75 games last season would suddenly get an ACL without any previous signs of weakness. Guardiola believes that fatigue and lack of rest are major factors in injuries like this. He argues that players need time to fully recover and recharge, just like in the NBA where players have three to four months off between seasons. Guardiola believes that if Rodri had been given two months off after the Euros, he would have been in top shape and could have played 80 games.
However, the reality of modern football makes it impossible for teams to have such a small squad. Guardiola knows that City will need at least 25 or 30 players next season to sustain the club economically. He points out that this season, City was able to generate revenue by selling a lot of players, especially from their academy. With the added demand for the team to perform, it's a tough balancing act. Ideally, Guardiola would like to have a smaller squad of 17, 18, or 19 players, but that's just not feasible in today's football landscape.
Guardiola also addresses the common belief that a team's preparation, nutrition, and rest can prevent injuries. He argues that it's not that simple, as even with a top-notch preparation and nutrition program, injuries can still occur due to the hectic schedule. Guardiola believes that the schedule is the main culprit behind injuries and that it's impossible to look at it any other way. Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains optimistic and committed to finding a way to navigate the tough demands of modern football.
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