September 20, (THEWILL) – Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has stated that players must lead the push for a more favourable match schedule. His comments come after midfielder Rodri warned about potential strike action due to increased workloads. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s English Premier League clash with Arsenal, Guardiola emphasised the importance of player voices in driving change.
City face a demanding stretch of seven games in three weeks. Guardiola remained uncertain about Kevin De Bruyne’s availability for Sunday, following the captain’s early exit in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League draw against Inter Milan. The manager reported that De Bruyne felt “a bit better” but his involvement would be determined after Saturday’s training session.
The upcoming match features the league champions and runners-up from the past two seasons, both currently unbeaten. City lead the league with a perfect record after four games. Guardiola praised Arsenal’s strengthening squad depth and improved performance each season while avoiding direct comments on their development to prevent accusations of “mind games”.
Guardiola described the fixture as a “tight game” based on recent years, acknowledging both teams’ quality. He stated that despite the high-profile nature of the match, its outcome is “not really important” for determining the title at this early stage of the season. The City manager suggested the return fixture in London, scheduled for 1 February 2025, would hold greater significance.
Manchester City currently top the League standings with 12 points, two ahead of Arsenal. The clash on Sunday promises to be a key early-season encounter between two of the league’s strongest sides, as both teams aim to build on their unbeaten starts to the 2024/2025 campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
