
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has highlighted Chelsea’s squad depth as a crucial advantage over their Premier League rivals, including City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, this season.
Chelsea’s large roster has allowed them to navigate the intense football schedule, a luxury Guardiola believes City cannot afford, especially with their current injury struggles.
Speaking about the impact of Rodri’s long-term absence due to an ACL injury, Guardiola pointed to the demands of the congested calendar as the root cause.
“So why is Rodri injured? He played 75 games last season,” Guardiola explained. “When we finished and I was on holiday, he was at the Euros to win the Euros with Spain, and injured with Spain and came back. And one game, two games. Do you know being fresh you get an ACL? No. I promise. Strong as Rodri, but he came back tired, not on the top. But I needed him against Inter, I needed him against Arsenal, not being at the top. And you are not strong enough and unfortunately it happened.”
Guardiola argued that players need extended rest periods, akin to those in other sports like basketball. “The reason why? The schedule. Give him one month and a half, two months holiday, give to Rodri, two months holiday after the Euros, like in the NBA, three months they have, four months they have, tell him, and he would be perfect. And after he can play 80 games if you want. But give him three months.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s squad, Guardiola admitted City might need to follow their blueprint next season to compete effectively. “But next season, next season Manchester City, not Chelsea—they already have the squad—have to be 30 players, 25 or 30. How do you sustain the club economically, financially? We won’t have revenues next season, impossible. Impossible.”