HEAT IS ON

It's a Real Mad month for Pep

- DAVID ANDERSON

MANCHESTER CITY are facing a crazy fixture pile-up this month after drawing Real Madrid in a titanic Champions League play-off showdown.

Pep Guardiola's side take on the Spanish giants for the fourth successive season, while City also play Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool in a mad February.

Guardiola (inset) said: "In the Premier League every team has to play everyone, but they always have the toughest schedules for the European teams at the toughest stages.

"It's tough playing against Real and the problem is, in the middle, playing Newcastle. They are always so kind with the calendar!

"But for many years it has happened that way."

Guardiola claims the schedule was gruelling for Premier League sides long before he arrived at the Etihad.