PEP GUARDIOLA fears football’s “crazy” fixture calendar will “kill” players.
Manchester City’s Algeria star Riyad Mahrez only finished LAST season FIVE days ago.
And Etihad boss Pep is worried burn-out will lead to serious injuries. He has told his jaded players NOT to return from holiday unless they are physically and mentally ready.
Guardiola’s warning came 24 hours after Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp demanded a longer summer break to protect Premier League stars.
And Pep raged: “It’s a crazy schedule and it is going to kill our players! They have to rest.
“I don’t want them to come back when they’re tired, or mentally not recovered from an incredibly tough season.
“We started a new season while Riyad Mahrez had not finished the last one!”
A host of City’s stars are still on their holidays and will miss the start of the season. Mahrez was in the Algeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations last Friday.
And City stars Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Fernandinho all got to the latter stages of the Copa America.
City, who are on a tour of Asia, kick off the season against Liverpool in the Community Shield in 11 days’ time.
Kop boss Klopp is also annoyed by the constant football and said: “It looks like nobody can imagine a week without football in the year. When did that happen?
“Come on, let them go. Be brave. Don’t treat every game like it is the last of a decade.”
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