Pep Guardiola believes that football’s demanding schedule may soon require clubs to have 40-man squads, though he warns such an approach could lead to financial ruin.
Manchester City, like Tottenham and Arsenal, have been hit hard by injuries this season. The latest setback comes with Manuel Akanji sidelined after suffering an abductor injury during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid. This follows the season-ending hamstring injury of Kai Havertz, highlighting the toll of a relentless fixture list.
Akanji is now expected to be out for up to 10 weeks, adding to City’s growing list of absentees. Guardiola sees this as a direct consequence of the ever-expanding football calendar, with players struggling to cope with the intense demands.
“I always anticipate injuries throughout a season, though not to this extent,” Guardiola admitted. “But it’s not just Manchester City. Many teams are suffering the same fate.”
As City prepares to face Newcastle in their upcoming Premier League fixture, the injury crisis continues to be a major concern. Guardiola’s comments reflect a growing debate over fixture congestion and player welfare in modern football.