Pep: Klopp’s right.. there are too many matches and the players will suffer if we don’t change it

PEP GUARDIOLA has backed title rival Jurgen Klopp by claiming too many games are wrecking modern-day players.

Liverpool boss Klopp complained at a fixture pile-up, with the Reds struggling to find a date for their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa.

Klopp’s side are due to go to Villa on December 17, but cannot keep to that date because they play in Qatar the following day in FIFA’s Club World Cup.

Liverpool face the prospect of having to field two different teams in the games if an alternative date cannot be found for the Villa tie.

Klopp said Liverpool could be forced to pull out of the competition, with Manchester City boss Guardiola agreeing with his managerial rival about fixture overload. “I completely agree,” said Guardiola. “We need fewer games. How do we pay for bigger squads? Less fixtures, less competitions, more recovery.

“We play December 27 and 29 in winter time. It’s always the debate, in UEFA meetings always they talk about it.

“I’m with Jurgen when he makes these kind of statements about too many games.”

Guardiola admitted the weight of fixture pile-up meant he was forced to rotate his squad for Tuesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton.

“I didn’t play Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva – and Arsenal and Liverpool have done the same,” said Guardiola.

“For the others, the competition is good to rotate the team and for those other players who don’t play too often. But yes, it’s too much.” Guardiola handed a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Tommy Doyle, grandson of City legends Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe, in the midweek win.

But the City manager claimed he does not feel under pressure to play young local players, insisting that his priority is to win with the best possible side he can field, regardless of where they come from.

“Pressure? No,” said Guardiola. “Of course it’s important to have a relationship with the local players, with our people, our fans, people who were born here.

“But this happens because of the quality of the players, not because you were born here.

If you’re going to play for City or United, you have to deserve to be there.”