Guardiola Defends Club World Cup Amid Criticism

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup amid widespread criticism, acknowledging concerns about player welfare and fixture congestion. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp called the tournament the 'worst idea ever,' and England manager Thomas Tuchel warned that City and Chelsea's participation could benefit rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Guardiola admitted he shares some worries, particularly about exhaustion and the potential impact on City's domestic campaign. City have responded by managing player workloads with lighter training and more downtime during their time in the US. Guardiola remains focused on helping players recover and maintain morale, but says the long-term consequences of the tournament are still unpredictable. He suggested that only time will tell whether the Club World Cup will undermine City's season.