Following Jurgen Klopp’s sharp remarks about the revamped Club World Cup format, another coaching heavyweight has now added his voice to the criticism — Pep Guardiola.Klopp, in a recent interview with Welt am Sonntag, didn’t mince words, calling the competition “the worst idea ever implemented in football.” He pointed fingers at decision-makers who, as he put it, “have never been involved in the daily grind or no longer are.”Jurgen Klopp called the Club World Cup “the worst idea ever implemented in football.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/kLRrAKHHTH— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2025 Now, Guardiola — whose Manchester City side is preparing to face Al-Hilal in the round of 16 on Tuesday (kick-off at 4.00.) — has echoed similar concerns, expressing sympathy for Klopp’s stance.Guardiola remarked: “When the players and coaches rest, you have more quality. So it didn’t surprise me. I understand him and respect him. I have an incredible relationship with Jurgen.”Reflecting on the tournament’s toll, Guardiola admitted: “After this competition, we’ll take as long a break as the Premier League allows us. And then we’ll take it game by game, month by month, we’ll see. And maybe by November, December, January, we’ll be a disaster. We’ll be exhausted. The Club World Cup will have destroyed us. I don’t know.”Pep Guardiola says he understands Jurgen Klopp’s criticisms of the Club World Cup but is trying not to think of how the shorter break could potentially “destroy” his team next season.Former Liverpool manager Klopp, who is now Red Bull’s head of global soccer, was speaking about… pic.twitter.com/T3CsTRnujE— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 30, 2025 Despite the sharp tone, the City boss also acknowledged the honor of competing: “It’s a job, after all. We follow FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League, Serie A… The coaches don’t organize the competitions; everyone has their role.”City cruised through the group stage in the U.S. with three commanding wins, and Guardiola used the matches to experiment with tactical variations and squad depth.Blunt Pep: ‘If I were at Madrid or Barca, I would have been sacked!’With the Premier League returning on August 15, Guardiola’s focus will soon shift back to domestic ambitions — as the reigning champions aim to defend their crown and bring more silverware back to Manchester.FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 20251/8 finalsSaturdayPalmeiras – Botafogo 1-0 AET (0-0)/Paulinho 10/Benfica – Chelsea 1-4 AET (1-1)/Di Maria 90+5 pen – James 64, Nkunku 108, Neto 114, Dewsbury-Hall 117/SundayPSG – Inter Miami (4-0)/Neves 6,39, Aviles 44 og, Hakimi 45+3/Flamengo – Bayern 2-4 (1-3)/Gerson 33, Jorginho 55 pen – Pulgar 6 (og), Kane 9, 73, Goretzka 41/Monday22.00: (1.80) Inter (3.50) Fluminense (4.70)Tuesday04.00: (1.35) Manchester City (5.00) Al-Hilal (9.00)22.00: (1.67) Real Madrid (3.70) Juventus (5.50)Wednesday04.00: (1.80) Dortmund (3.60) Monterrey (4.60)***odds are subject to change***
