When two best teams in England go against each other, everything counts, every little detail: whose players are more tired, who is injured, who had more hours to rest and sleep…and according to those circumstances, Liverpool is ahead of Manchester City in today’s FA Cup semi-final, which is played at Wembley. The Reds had an easier opponent in the Champions League which they already defeated in Portugal and they were not only able to rest more, because they played in England, but they also were privileged to rest a few players, since the result from the first game was 3-1 for Liverpool. On the other hand, City had to travel to Spain and back, and play a really tough match against Atletico Madrid in a hostile environment. City and Liverpool play each other tomorrow for the second time in six days 😐 pic.twitter.com/xOKeyZ1m3d— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 15, 2022 But, coach Pep Guardiola decided not to be too grumpy about it, and to take all the positives in order to motivate his players for this match. “It happens for one reason – cos we’re fighting for all the titles – that is good news, I’m saying that with a big smile, it’s not that I am grumpy. I’m so happy to live that. So, good massage, good food, I say to my players sleep a lot, take a nap, sleep, sleep, a lot of hours, as much hours as possible, then good food, today was a good regeneration, and at 3.30 we will be there. It is what it is. It looks like if I give an argument, I am trying to look for or trying to find some excuse. I always prefer nice situations, more days and to arrive more fresh not just with 14 or 15 players that we have now but it is what it is“ said the Spaniard ahead of the game. 💙 @BernardoCSilva wants to win the #EmiratesFACup for @ManCity fans 💙 pic.twitter.com/h1LsD7T3hx— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 15, 2022 With the finals being played in London, Pep agreed to cut the travelling time as much as possible and to land straight to the capital after the Atletico game and train at „The Den“, an (in)famous Millwall football stadium.„We are more than grateful to Millwall to allow us to use this incredible pitch. It was in perfect condition. We are more than grateful to Millwall to allow us to use this incredible pitch. It was in perfect condition. That is why we travelled here direct from Madrid. If we went to Manchester we would have to travel here on the bus and we want to have the legs as fresh as possible with the incredible confidence I have. That is why I admire a lot these players, for five or six seasons. We have fought every season like this and we go through. And we are going to perform well. I said to the players I don’t want any excuses, I don’t want to find a situation in which it could be better” said Pep. Shots on target 4 – incidents 6: the crazy stats of the City – Atletico gameHis counterpart Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have those problems, since his players are fully rested and slept well, but he (again) had to reply to the „quadruple“ questions, as his team in still in three more competitions, and have already won one (Carabao Cup). And the German admitted that it’s a thin line between failure and success in Liverpool. “I’m really happy for the boys. At this club it is so difficult to do something that our fathers and grandfathers didn’t do already. This specific thing, nobody did it in this club. But we don’t think about the quadruple. Imagine if I was to sit here and you would not ask me about it, but I would just constantly start referring to the quadruple – if I did that you would think I was completely mad. In the year that we got to the Champions League final and won that in 2019, we didn’t have the squad size but we came through. We didn’t become champions because of 11mm or whatever. We carried on in the Champions League. Imagine that? It is always intense. This year is especially intense but it is enjoyable and exciting. Is it likely that we win the four competitions? No. Three competitions? No. One more? Hopefully. That would be nice” said the German.
