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Guardiola: “Haters” Reject Club World Cup!

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola defended the 2025 Club World Cup and tried to downplay suggestions that it would cause significant physical fatigue for players, stating that it was difficult to predict whether or not it would.

Since the announcement of the tournament, many officials have criticized the idea, arguing that expanding the number of clubs to 32 and holding the tournament in the summer would mean that clubs would not have enough rest, increasing the risk of player injuries.

Although Guardiola himself was angry about his team’s lack of adequate rest, stating upon his arrival in the United States, “We will only rest when we die,” he now defends the tournament in one form or another and emphasizes his desire to win the title.

Guardiola Responds to Klopp’s Criticism

Former Liverpool manager and current Red Bull global director Jürgen Klopp considered the new Club World Cup the worst idea ever implemented in football history, saying it defies logic and will cause too many player injuries.

Guardiola commented on Klopp’s comments, saying, “We’ve had many competitions with Klopp, and I completely understand where his opinions come from. I respect him and I will defend his right to express his opinion, but as coaches, we are not responsible for organizing tournaments; we are just doing our job.”

The philosopher addressed the challenges facing the US hosting the tournament, saying, “The weather is a big problem here, whether it’s extreme heat or thunderstorms. It’s not ideal, but I was raised to deal with things I can control, so I don’t see a problem with what’s happening.”

Guardiola: I understand the criticism of the Club World Cup, but!

In the press conference for the Al Hilal match in the Round of 16, Guardiola, when asked about the expected fatigue, said, “My team and I are trying to enjoy this experience and the positive atmosphere surrounding the tournament. Our goal is to win it. The most important thing for me is to regain our energy and determine our level of readiness. That’s our real goal.”

He added, “I want the players to realize that the Club World Cup is a good opportunity to return and compete for titles again, as we have in the last nine seasons.”

He continued, “We will get some rest before the new season, but it’s certainly not a big one. We may face a physical disaster in November, December, or January due to fatigue, but I can’t confirm that. We have to wait and see.”

He concluded, “Perhaps some teams are criticizing the tournament only because they aren’t participating in it. If they had the opportunity, these clubs would have been the first to admire and praise it. We are truly proud to be here.”

Officials Criticized the Club World Cup

Alongside Klopp’s offensive statements, England coach Thomas Tuchel was among the most upset by the World Cup being held in this manner and at this time. He believed that English clubs participating in it would be greatly affected next season, and that teams that did not participate, such as Arsenal and Liverpool, would have a greater chance of winning titles and maintaining consistency.

Barcelona star Rafinha said that the worst and most ridiculous thing that could happen is for a player to participate in an unimportant tournament that would take away his rest period. He considered it fortunate for Barcelona not to participate in the current Club World Cup.

Ronaldo Reveals Why He Refused to Participate in the 2025 Club World Cup

Meanwhile, La Liga President Javier Tebas announced that he would do everything in his power to prevent FIFA from holding the World Cup again in this manner, stressing that the pressure of matches in this manner would completely destroy football and its enjoyment.

Despite all the criticism, FIFA continues to pursue its path without hesitation, and countries are currently competing to host the next edition in 2029. Brazil, Morocco, Spain, and most recently, Qatar are all trying to secure the honor of hosting the World Cup on their home soil.