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Pep Guardiola sends sarcastic message to Premier League as Man City boss demands delayed start after Club World Cup

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<p>The Manchester City boss claimed that the Premier League had denied the club’s request to push the start of 2025-26 back a couple of weeks. The club are scheduled to play in the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/club-world-cup-2025-how-qualification-works-list-qualified-teams/bltac42bd2227f80540" target="_blank">newly reformed FIFA Club World Cup </a>at the end of the season and the City boss believes his players are not being allowed enough time to rest and recover. Guardiola was keen to air his grievances in a rather sarcastic manner, although<em> </em><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czxgp0epdq1o" target="_blank"><em>BBC Sport</em> contacted the Premier League,</a> who said no official request to delay the season had been made.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Speaking ahead of City's clash with Fulham on Saturday, Guardiola said sarcastically: "The Premier League has not allowed us to postpone the first two games for our recovery. Thank you so much.</p><p>"I think the club asked the league to postpone one or two or three weeks so we can have a holiday after the [Club] World Cup but it is absolutely not allowed. The Premier League say yes to us? No. Absolutely not."</p>

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

<p>Guardiola’s concerns come amid a rising tide of players complaining about fixture congestion. City’s Rodri threatened that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/rodri-exhausted-players-will-go-on-strike-man-city/bltae31770e1beb65a2" target="_blank">players could go on strike</a> if their concerns are not addressed, warning that playing up to 70 games a season would take a toll on their health and fitness. The Spanish midfielder then injured his knee ligaments against Arsenal and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/rodri-season-over-pep-guardiola-confirms-man-city-acl-injury-football-expert/blt8f4b68bfd511aec3" target="_blank">will be out for most, if not the whole, season</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>After playing in the Champions League in midweek, City now host Fulham at the Etihad hoping to pounce on any slip-up Liverpool may make in the earlier Saturday kick-off against Crystal Palace. City will also be keeping an eye on the score at the Emirates as Arsenal host Southampton ahead of the international break.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA?

Pep Guardiola sends sarcastic message to Premier League as Man City boss demands delayed start after Club World Cup | Goal.com

Pep Guardiola has voiced his frustration at the Premier League allegedly rejecting Manchester City&apos;s request to delay the start of next season.