In a snub that is bound to only increase tensions, Manchester City’s plea to the Premier League for the postponement of their season-opening matches next season has been flatly denied. The ruling could spell trouble for Pep Guardiola’s outfit, who fear player exhaustion due to their engagement in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Given the tight schedule, the tournament kicks off in June, spans four weeks, and culminates with the final on July 13. It’s likely to butt heads with the domestic season’s beginning, which traditionally starts in August, although a precise commencement date for the upcoming season remains under wraps.

Guardiola is understandably concerned about his squad’s well-being; with players entitled to a three-week break once the season concludes.

His team’s push for a delayed start to the 2025/26 Premier League was rejected outright, prompting Guardiola to vent: “The club asked the Premier League to postpone it, to have more holiday, but it’s absolutely not allowed. The Premier League said no. Thank you so much! I don’t have the answer. I think we take a decision with common sense!”

Taking another swing at FIFA, Guardiola insists that he will be the one calling the shots when deciding his line-up for the Club World Cup. Despite FIFA’s hard-line stance requiring clubs to field their top players, Guardiola counters with a probing question: ‘Which are the strongest players?’

“I don’t understand how the selection of a player makes him ‘stronger’ than the other ones. I know. I’m not going to be told before games which players are going to play. I will decide, for sure.”