Guardiola criticizes the pressure of matches ... Nobody cares about the players

Spaniard Pep Guardiola, coach of Manchester City, criticized the busy schedule of matches this season, stressing that "no one cares about the players."

Guardiola's comments, which were banned until Saturday evening, came in the wake of Thursday's victory over Bournemouth in the League Cup, in light of the series of consecutive matches that await his team.

City will play eight matches until October 31, including two in the Champions League, while some international players have been called up for the team to join their national teams in the same month.

The emerging Corona virus crisis has cast a shadow on the football agenda, as the 2019/2020 European Leagues season ended in July and the UEFA Champions League season in August, thus reducing the pre-season period.

"The players only got a two-week preparation period and now they have to play a match every three days for 11 months," Guardiola said. "They are not machines."

"Nobody cares about the players, everyone, the Premier League, UEFA (European Football Association) defend their own interests and positions," he added.

Manchester City suffered injuries, as Guardiola confirmed that he had 13 players available only after the Bournemouth match.

Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus will be absent due to muscle strain, Argentine striker Sergio Aguero will be absent for another seven weeks due to a knee injury sustained last season, in addition to the absence of Portuguese Bernardo Silva.

"Everyone is suffering, we are no exception, we have to believe in what we do and try to play well," the Spanish coach said.

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