Manchester City coach, Josep Guardiola, expressed his frustration over the series of injuries that teams suffered after the FIFA date, emphasizing that players are paid by the club, not by the national team. Guardiola voiced his displeasure at a press conference regarding players returning injured after playing for their national teams.
"The club pays them, not the national team," was one of his most relevant statements, emphasizing that the club invests in players and it is unacceptable for them to get injured in friendly matches. This issue is not new for Guardiola, who had already expressed his discontent on previous occasions, especially since the English team suffered significant losses like Kyle Walker and Rodri, who returned with physical problems from international commitments.
This has affected key players in City's strategy at a crucial time of the season with the UEFA Champions League at stake. Guardiola always supports his players to represent their respective countries, but he stressed that it is unacceptable for them to return injured from non-decisive matches, especially when the club is in full competition.
Furthermore, Guardiola praised the new format of the UEFA Champions League during the conference, highlighting the high level of the weekly matches. He stressed the importance of winning home matches to secure a favorable position in the next stage of the tournament.
On the other hand, Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, also referred to the same issue in an interview, expressing his concern over the regulations that compel players to join their national teams. Laporta suggested that players should have more freedom to decide whether they want to participate in international commitments. "Players need to be protected," said Laporta, agreeing with Guardiola's stance.
