Pep has fixtures solution as Klopp complains: ´One game a week in the Maldives league´

Pep Guardiola offered a solution as Jurgen Klopp bemoaned Liverpool’s hectic schedule, suggesting that issue would disappear if he took up a job in the Maldives.

Manchester City are in action against Leeds United on Sunday after Liverpool have visited Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick-off.

The timing of that fixture has been the source of some frustration to Klopp, whose Reds side played in the Champions League against Villarreal on Wednesday.

But City manager Guardiola insisted it is a problem top coaches simply have to come to terms with, accepting they have little say in how the calendar is set.

The alternative, Guardiola suggested, would be leaving the Premier League for a quieter life beneath the coconut trees in “the Maldives league”.

“Always I sympathise about the concerns of Liverpool,” Guardiola said with a smile of Klopp’s complaint.

“How many times have we discussed about what’s happened to us and I’ve said I don’t want to talk about that? Nothing is going to change.

“It’s not going to change because the broadcasters are thinking about what they have to do to get more viewers. It’s not about what the players need or what the teams need.

“Of course I understand it, but what can I say? We are not going to solve the problem, I’ve said many times. Sir Alex Ferguson was the most important icon in the history of English football and he was complaining when he was a teenager.

“Nothing is going to change, so don’t ask me. With these questions, stop asking the managers. Go to the Premier League, the broadcasters, and ask the reason why. As a manager, we want the best for our players.

“We are focused on the players, concerned about the players and their recovery to make three or four competitions. Don’t ask me again these questions because it wastes time. Nothing is going to change.

Enjoy five of the best Newcastle, as we get set for the trip to St. James’ Park! #NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/i79SqZy0ew

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 29, 2022

“We played in Madrid against Atletico, and three days later we played at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

“Chelsea played Tuesday and could have played on Saturday but played on Sunday. Do you think they think about that? No, because the next Tuesday, Liverpool play against United.

“Everyone has their own business to defend. We adapt. If they say play Saturday, we play Saturday. If they say play Tuesday, we play Tuesday. Thursday? We are going to play Thursday. Whatever they want, no problem.

“If I’m not satisfied, I go home and don’t be manager of Man City. I go to another league in the Maldives, the Maldives league, and play one game a week and I’m so comfortable under the coconuts and it would be so perfect.

“But it’s not the case. You are playing at 12.30pm, I’m sorry, Liverpool, but I’m not involved with that.”