Manager Guardiola claims festive fixture pile-up could harm footballers after Man City play fourth game in 11 days during which they beat Watford 3-1
Man Citys Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring a goal in just 38 seconds against Watford during an EPL tie on Tuesday. pic/Getty Images
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Pep Guardiola claims the congested festive fixture schedule might kill his Manchester City players and has urged the Football Association to think a little bit more about their welfare. Raheem Sterling scored after just 38 seconds as City roared back to winning ways at the expense of Watford on Tuesday. Kevin De Bruyne also delivered a masterful performance just two days after being carried off at Crystal Palace. City's comfortable 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium restored a 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League and saw them take three points again after the rare 'blip' of a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.
Pep Guardiola
The result never seemed in doubt after Sterling's 18th goal of the season — the quickest scored in the top flight this season — with Christian Kabasele putting through his own net soon after and Sergio Aguero netting in the second half. Guardiola was most concerned about his players' welfare after playing four games in 11 days. De Bruyne may have escaped serious injury but striker Gabriel Jesus is facing between four and six weeks out with a knee problem. Guardiola said: "We are going to kill them. I think the federation (FA) has to reflect. Here in England, we don't protect the players and that is a big mistake.
"You have to look for the quality, not the quantity. You can play every three, four or five days but not play every two days. It is not basketball, it is not tennis. The players need recovery. But it doesn't matter. The show must go on. I don't think anything is going to happen because the tradition is the tradition but just think a little bit about the players. They are artists."
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