Let’s be honest—when Man City crashed out of the Club World Cup earlier than expected, jaws dropped. Not in disbelief at the defeat, but in shock that they’d finally get a week off. For a squad that’s been on more flights than a travel blogger with commitment issues, this could be the footballing equivalent of a spa day.
Since August, City have played 61 games—their joint-highest total in a single season since Pep Guardiola rolled up at the Etihad with a tactical manual thicker than a Tolstoy novel. And yet, they still aren’t the busiest bees in Europe. Real Madrid (65), Inter Milan (63), and PSG (62) are the only clubs that have outpaced them—though Chelsea, with the scheduling of a drunken octopus, will soon overtake them too.
Man City’s Marvels Need a Nap
Let’s talk about workload. City doesn’t rotate players like a sushi conveyor belt the way Chelsea does. Instead, Pep prefers trust falls—with the same players. Four of the 15 Premier League outfield players with over 100 matches in the last two seasons are from City: Tijjani Reijnders (107), Ilkay Gundogan (105), Phil Foden (102), and Bernardo Silva (101). That’s not a rotation policy—it’s a slow march to collective exhaustion.
Man City’s Midfield: Tired Legs and Turbo Brains
Reijnders alone racked up 4,861 minutes last season for Milan. If minutes were frequent flyer miles, he’d be sipping champagne in first class. Meanwhile, Gvardiol, Haaland, and Bernardo Silva all feature in the top 13 most-used Premier League players. No wonder they looked like they’d rather knit than kick in the final Club World Cup game.
City Must Recharge or Risk Flatlining
In the short term, this unexpected vacation may be a blessing. But Pep’s men can’t run on tactical brilliance alone—eventually, even metronomes need winding. If Man City wants to dominate again next season, they’ll need more than a nap and a protein shake.
Football may be life—but even life needs load management.
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