Pep has no complaints over City fixture pile-up

PEP GUARDIOLA insists he will do everything he can to win the FA Cup despite fears over a fixture pile-up as Manchester City chase the Quadruple. City hope to reach next month’s fifth round by winning at Championship promotion contenders Cardiff tomorrow. However, they also face a run of four games in 11 days against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, the Gunners and Chelsea in the Premier League and Swiss side Basle in the last 16 of the Champions League. When Guardiola’s predecessor Manuel Pellegrini was confronted with fixture congestion two years ago, he fielded a weakened team in an FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea because it fell three days before a Champions League trip to Dynamo Kiev. His side lost 5-1 at Stamford Bridge. ‘That situation was different to now,’ said Guardiola. ‘The club asked for the fixture to move to have one more day to go to Kiev. I understand completely what the club did, but here the television (companies) decide the fixtures, not the clubs or the federation, and we’ll adapt. ‘I prefer to be in the position we are. Last season, for example, we weren’t in four competitions. ‘We play a lot and we still have a lot to play. It is what it is. Now is a period when every game is so important and every competition. ‘We are going to play the final at Wembley on February 25 and on Thursday against Arsenal in the Premier League, Sunday it’s Chelsea, then Wednesday it’s Basle in the Champions League. ‘We’d prefer more time but we are in four competitions and the television decides in their interests, not the interest of all the clubs. I give my opinion but nothing is going to change. ‘No complaining about that. Sometimes you have one more day, sometimes less days because the television decides.’ Guardiola expects a serious challenge from Cardiff after City were pushed all the way by Wolves and Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. ‘They don’t have the pressure like Premier League teams, it’s perfect for them,’ he added. ‘It’s a party or maybe a good opportunity.’