Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticized the lack of rest this season and said that UEFA and FIFA are "killing the players."
"It's too much. They are human beings, not machines. I know some of them are sad because they always want to play every game, but that's not possible," said Guardiola, who made six changes to his side in Saturday's win over Leicester City.
"To be good in all competitions this year without spectators, in the shortest season in history, if you don't rotate your players you can't compete and you couldn't be in the position we're in," he added.
"When you are winning, winning the guys that played know they have to play good to try and play again."
Pep Guardiola on why the rotation at Manchester City isn't affecting their level of performances pic.twitter.com/j0rYCO1pDz— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 3, 2021
"They could play, yes, they have an incredible mentality, but they need to rest. UEFA and FIFA are killing the players because it's too much. We haven't had a week off since we started."
The Premier League is Europe's only major division that doesn't allow five substitutions per match, instead electing to keep it at three. This is something that may change next season since there’s a lot of criticism surrounding player health due to an intense calendar and an increase in muscle injuries.
