Pep Guardiola issued a sly dig at the Premier League after Manchester City’s Super Cup victory.
On Wednesday, City added the Super Cup to the Treble they claimed last term with victory over Sevilla on penalties in Athens.
Yet, they had to come from behind to force penalties after a towering header from Youssef En-Nesyri put the Europa League holders ahead in the first half.
Player-of-the-match Cole Palmer equalised for the Premier League outfit, rising at the far post in the 63rd minute to level proceedings with a looping header.
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It set up a tense finale, that concluded with Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj missing the decisive spot kick, moments after captain Kyle Walker had scored City’s fifth successful penalty of the shoot-out.
Attention for City will now turn to recovering for Newcastle United’s visit to the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday.
And after the Super Cup triumph, Guardiola issued a sly dig at the Premier League for not moving City’s game to a Sunday or Monday to allow City players sufficient time to recover. The clip can be viewed below.
In his press conference, Guardiola sarcastically said: “Of course, tomorrow we will be even happier than today, recovering [having had] not one drop of alcohol.
“[We need to] recover as much as possible because, again, from Greece, thank you so much to the Premier League for letting us play on Saturday, and not on Sunday and Monday. Thank you so much.”
Guardiola has long been critical of the fixture congestion brought on by the Premier League schedule, having previously insisted players are playing too much football and were at risk of suffering injuries.
On the Super Cup victory Guardiola added: "I would say of course we are not in the best, best moment but knowing the players and the mentality of the backroom staff, I had a feeling that we will try.
"We are really pleased to have already one title in this season. I am really pleased for the club - this title we didn't have and now we have it. A tight game like this happened in the [Champions League] final against Inter.
“We also lost a tight game in the last minute against Arsenal [in the Community Shield]. Football in these stages, at that moment, is a coin [flip].
"Now it is just one thing to finish full circle and have all the titles this club can have. It's happening in December when we go to Saudi Arabia to play the [Club] World Cup."
Topics: Football, Premier League, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola
Chris Byfield