Pep Guardiola has expressed frustration over Manchester City’s request to postpone their opening fixtures of the next Premier League season, a plea that appears to have been rejected by league officials. With City set to compete in the Club World Cup, Guardiola believes his team deserves a longer recovery period but fears the Premier League is not willing to accommodate.

Manchester City had requested a delay in the start of the 2025-26 season due to the Club World Cup, which concludes with the final on July 13 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The timing leaves just four or five weeks before the Premier League season kicks off. Guardiola emphasized the need for additional rest, with three weeks of mandatory recovery already in place for players.

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“The Premier League has not allowed us to postpone the first two games for our recovery,” said Guardiola, sarcastically adding, “Thank you so much.”

Despite Guardiola’s claims, sources within both Manchester City and the Premier League told the BBC that no formal request had been made regarding the postponement. Although the Premier League has yet to officially announce the start date for the 2025-26 season, it is expected to begin around August 9 or 16, with the Community Shield held the week prior—a fixture City have frequently participated in.

In addition to Manchester City, Chelsea will also be involved in the Club World Cup next summer, further adding to the scheduling complexities for English teams.