Manchester City cannot blame gruelling schedule if title bid falls short, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City cannot use its gruelling schedule as an excuse if it fails to win the Premier League title.

Guardiola’s second-placed side is three points behind leader Arsenal heading into the final weeks of the season.

City’s title bid could be hampered by a fixture pile-up after its matches against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were given new dates on either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Those matches had to be moved because of City’s progress in both domestic cups, but the new schedule means it will play three times in seven days from May 13 to 19.

The League Cup winner’s title charge concludes against Aston Villa on May 24.

City was reportedly unhappy when the fixtures were confirmed, particularly because it felt the Palace game, originally slated for March, could have been rearranged earlier.

But Guardiola accepted the situation as an inevitable consequence of being successful in English football.

“It is what it is. When we won the treble and quadruple we always had this kind of calendar,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“Of course it could be better but I’ve never expected help. We’ll do that and go game by game.

“If you don’t like it, go and train in France or Portugal. I like being here, and I’ve said many times, when I was at Barcelona and saw managers here complain about the schedule, it has always been like this.”

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City is chasing the seventh Premier League title of the Guardiola era as it seeks to take advantage of Arsenal’s latest stumble in the title race.

The Gunners blew substantial leads that allowed City to lift the trophy in 2023 and 2024.

By the time City travels to Everton on Monday, it will be six points behind Arsenal if Mikel Arteta’s side beats Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

But the Everton game will be the first of City’s two games in hand in a race so tight it could be decided by goal difference or goals scored.

“It’s normal, it’s the calendar. Sometimes you play first, sometimes behind,” Guardiola said.

“It is what it is and nothing changes at this stage — you know exactly what you have to do.”

Guardiola claimed he did not even know when Arsenal was playing when asked if he would watch its game against Fulham.

“What time do they play? It’s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it,” the 55-year-old Spaniard said.

Published on May 01, 2026