Carlo Ancelotti has played down Pep Guardiola’s complaints regarding Manchester City’s demanding schedule and says it will not decide their Champions League showdown.
Real Madrid host the defending champions next week in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, though before that City face testing Premier League matches against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
The trip to the Bernabeu will be City’s fourth game in 10 days, whereas Real now have a free week following Sunday’s La Liga win over Athletic and do not play again until the quarter-final.
Guardiola is far from happy with the scheduling and feels the Premier League do not do enough to help their European representatives, unlike leagues elsewhere on the continent.
Speaking prior to 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.’
While Ancelotti has acknowledged that City’s fixture list is rather taxing, he does not believe it will be a decisive factor.
Asked about Guardiola’s comments, he 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 game could actually be an issue for Real, Ancelotti continued: ‘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 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.’
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