Carlo Ancelotti has downplayed Pep Guardiola’s concerns about Manchester City’s busy schedule, emphasizing that it won’t determine their Champions League showdown.
Real Madrid will host the defending champions next week for the first leg of their quarter-final tie, with City facing challenging Premier League matches against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace beforehand.
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City’s visit to the Bernabeu marks their fourth game in 10 days, while Real Madrid enjoy a week off after their La Liga victory over Athletic on Sunday, before their quarter-final match.
Guardiola expresses dissatisfaction with the scheduling, believing the Premier League fails to support its European representatives adequately, unlike leagues in other parts of the continent.
Speaking before City’s title tussle against Arsenal, Guardiola said: ‘Madrid have nine days to prepare for our game. Nine days! They play this weekend and then not again until our game – while I am thinking, “Oh, just give me one more day!”
‘With one more day the difference is a lot – but there is no chance. That’s why, when you ask me about changes to the calendar, I give my opinion – but forget about it.’
Although Ancelotti recognizes that City’s fixture list is demanding, he does not consider it to be a determining factor.
Asked about Guardiola’s comments, the Italian said: ‘I see the calendar well. Obviously, they have a more complicated schedule. We have a small advantage in this regard, but it will not determine the outcome of the match.’
Asked if such a long period without a match could be an issue for Real, Ancelotti added: ‘No, I don’t think so. It’s good for us to have a week to prepare for the game.
‘We will give rest to those who have been with their national teams, and it is just enough time to prepare for the game in the best way.
‘We know them very well. We are going to analyse everything that can be analysed. We are focused on our game, and it must be a different duel than what we did [against Athletic], with more intensity. We are going to do it. We have the time to prepare everything perfectly.’
Continuing his rant regarding Man City’s schedule, Guardiola said on Friday: ‘I defend my club and for my club it’s really tough playing every three days, three days, three days – and the other clubs don’t have that situation.
’In France, PSG don’t play between their quarter-final games. In Portugal, they often play on Friday before the Champions League. They [the FA and Premier League] have their own business and their own decisions.
‘But I would like to know the answer about why we play in the FA Cup all the time on Saturday and not on Sunday. One day is a lot of difference at this stage with injured players and the accumulation of games.’
