Guardiola unsure if Club World Cup will 'destroy us'

PEP GUARDIOLA concedes he does not know if Manchester City’s Premier League challenge next season will be “destroyed” by their current FIFA Club World Cup campaign or not.

- By ANDY HAMPSON

England manager Thomas Tuchel recently said the involvement of City and Chelsea in this summer’s tournament in the United States would hand the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal a “huge advantage” in the title race.

And former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also described the event as “the worst idea ever implemented in football” because of concerns over player welfare.

Guardiola, however, insists City - who faced Al-Hilal in a last-16 tie in Orlando in the early hours of this morning - are focused on rediscovering their best form after a frustrating 2024-25 season and claiming the trophy.

If they beat the Saudis they would face either Inter Milan or Fluminense in the quarter-final stage on Friday night (BST).