“It’s not tiredness” – Pep Guardiola rejects Manchester City fatigue talk in domestic treble hunt

A lot of games but Man City players not tired, says Pep

Asked whether his players are pushing through tiredness in the final stretch of the season, the Manchester City said: “No, it’s not tiredness. It’s just the last games of the season and yeah, it’s one week and a few days. So a lot of games in this time and next one is Crystal Palace.”

The distinction Guardiola draws is a subtle but important one. Tiredness implies a depletion of resource that affects performance: what he is describing is simply the reality of a congested schedule at the end of a long campaign, something every club at this stage of the season is managing in equal measure.

Pep tells the Premier League: “Let managers do what they have to do”

Guardiola was rather less measured when asked if clubs should be wary of facing teams with rotated or weakened squads at this point in the season – a question that appeared to touch a raw nerve given the ongoing debate about Premier League scheduling and fixture management.

“Leave the managers to do what they have to do,” he added. “As less the Premier League is involved in all decisions, it will be better for all of us. Leave Oliver (Glasner) or the managers to do what they have to do, no problem.”

The reference to Palace boss Glanser is pointed, with Crystal Palace’s manager having navigated his own demanding run of fixtures across the UEFA Conference League knockout phase and the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola: We have done it before, we can win the domestic treble again

Guardiola’s wider message, however, is aimed squarely at the Premier League itself – a continuation of his public frustration at City’s scheduling that has been building throughout the run-in.

What is at stake for City on Wednesday night?

City must win against Crystal Palace and hope Arsenal drop points in their remaining fixtures against Burnley and the Eagles if the title race is to go to the final day.

Glasner’s side arrive at the Etihad Stadium having been one of the form teams in the division in the second half of the season, making this far from a routine home fixture for Guardiola and co.

The dig at the Premier League aside, Guardiola’s mood heading into Wednesday appears focused and purposeful, as it has been throughout one of the most dramatic title run-ins in recent memory. Three league games and the FA Cup final remain. The rest, as he has said all season, is not in City’s hands.