Pep Guardiola takes aim at Premier League scheduling just two games into the season

Pep Guardiola has slammed the Premier League scheduling (Image: Twitter)

Pep Guardiola has already blasted the Premier League in a bizarre rant about Manchester City’s fixture scheduling, despite the new season being less than a week old.

The Spaniard has always been fraught about the pile-up that inevitably ensues when teams progress far into tournaments, such as his City side last season that won the Treble. But, incredibly, it's taken just a matter of days for Guardiola to hit out at the Premier League again following their European latest final.

City opened the new campaign on Friday night with a routine victory over Burnley as champions before they travelled to Greece on Wednesday night to face Europa League winners Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.

Sevilla took the lead through Youssef En-Nesyri, before Cole Palmer followed up his Community Shield goal by netting City’s equaliser in the second half, with Guardiola’s side winning the ensuing shootout 5-4.

City will return to Premier League action on Saturday in the 8pm kick-off against Newcastle United.

But during his post-match press conference following City’s penalty shootout victory, Guardiola hit out at the scheduling despite revealing his delight at winning another trophy, he said: "I’m really pleased to have this one.

Manchester City won the fixture for the first time (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

"Now we miss just one to finish our circle and have all the titles, that can happen in December when we go to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup. I’m really, really pleased.

"We lost in the last minute of the Community Shield against Arsenal from a deflection so football at this level is a coin. If they’d scored a second maybe it would be over but we had chances before the penalty kicks.

"Thank you so much to the Premier League for letting us play on Saturday...and not on Sunday or Monday..." 👀

Man City boss Pep Guardiola on his sides recovery after their Super Cup win ⬇️pic.twitter.com/s4gzhK2cff

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 17, 2023

"Tomorrow we will be even happier than today when we recover, but not one drop of alcohol. We need to recover as much as possible because from Greece, thank you so much to the Premier League for letting us play Saturday and not Sunday or Monday. Thank you so much."

After facing Newcastle at home Saturday, City will have an eight-day gap between their next game as they make the 74-mile round journey to face Sheffield United on Sunday August 27.