Guardiola saw City return to winning ways at the end of the EPL’s exhausting holiday schedule, but warned the English game is in danger of destroying its top stars
Pep Guardiola saw Manchester City return to winning ways at the end of the Premier League’s exhausting holiday schedule, but warned the English game is in danger of destroying its top stars.
Manchester City restored their Premier League lead to 15 points with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Watford at their Etihad Stadium stronghold on Tuesday.
As Tottenham Hotspur moved back into fifth, leapfrogging London rivals Arsenal with a 2-0 victory at bottom club Swansea City, Manchester City marched on as inform Raheem Sterling set up their win with a goal after 38 seconds.
Swansea’s plight under new manager Carlos Carvalhal looked as precarious as that now also facing West Bromwich Albion’s Alan Pardew, as Andy Carroll scored twice in West Ham United’s 2-1 comeback win over the Baggies.
Crystal Palace’s revival under Roy Hodgson continued apace as they also came from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton and pull clear of the relegation zone.
For City, Sterling scored his ninth goal in nine home league matches, tapping in Leroy Sane’s cross as Watford were caught napping in the opening seconds before Christian Kabasele sliced an attempted clearance into his own net in the 13th minute.
Sergio Aguero sealed the victory in the 63rd minute before a late Watford consolation from Andre Gray. Still, though, City’s Pep Guardiola was not in the mood to celebrate as he chose the aftermath of City’s fourth game in 11 days to lead a chorus of complaints from managers about the congested festive fixture list.
A spell of four games in 11 days has taken its toll, with City’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus sustaining a knee ligament injury which will sideline him for four to six weeks.
Full-back Kyle Walker also limped off after the victory over Watford with what appeared to be a groin injury.
“We are going to check it out, he (Walker) might have a little problem,” Guardiola said. “But what everyone saw in the last weeks is how many injuries the players have. We are going to kill them.
“The federation bosses have to reflect a little bit. It’s not normal to play (December) 31st and two days later. I know the show must go on, but... that is not normal.
“They (the authorities) have to control it. They don’t protect the players and they are who the people come to watch. Here in England you don’t protect the players, you have to look for the quality, not the quantity.”
Guardiola is the latest in a long list of high-profile managers to question the traditional English fixture schedule this season, his Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho being chief among them. —