Pep Guardiola has pointed out that Chelsea’s deep squad has given them a significant advantage over Manchester City this season.
Currently, City sits fifth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United, trailing leaders Liverpool by nine points after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday.
City is experiencing one of their toughest stretches under Guardiola, with only one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions, including seven losses. Their difficulties have been compounded by the absence of Rodri, whose dominance in midfield has been sorely missed. The Spanish Euro 2024 champion is expected to be sidelined for most of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
On the other hand, Chelsea has been thriving under manager Enzo Maresca, winning their last six matches across all competitions. Their success has been largely attributed to effective squad rotation, particularly in managing their Conference League commitments. Maresca’s ability to rotate players like Nicolas Jackson, Moisés Caicedo, and Cole Palmer has kept them fresh for key Premier League games.
Guardiola has praised Chelsea’s approach and suggested that Manchester City could benefit from a similar strategy next season. However, he also stressed the physical toll of the demanding football calendar. Using Rodri’s injury as an example, Guardiola noted that his star midfielder played 75 matches last season, including a triumphant Euro campaign with Spain, leaving little time for recovery.
Guardiola argued that the current schedule doesn’t allow players adequate rest and proposed that they should receive extended off-seasons, similar to the longer breaks seen in the NBA, to properly recover and maintain peak performance. Without such changes, fatigue-related injuries will continue to hamper top athletes.
