Pep Guardiola doesn't hold his tongue. He has issued a clear warning to the clubs that will compete in the next Club World Cup, including Real Madrid and his City.
Meanwhile, teams like Barça, Liverpool, or Napoli will be able to have a normal preseason, while Los Blancos will see their schedule disrupted by a demanding and exhausting tournament right in the middle of summer preparations. Guardiola is certain: "They'll pay for it..."
The Club World Cup, a poisoned gift
The Club World Cup is being played between June and July 2025, while some of the big clubs are enjoying their last days of vacation.
It's a long tournament, with many trips and top-level opponents. FIFA promotes it as a great opportunity to globalize soccer and open new markets. But coaches like Guardiola and Klopp see it as a direct threat to their teams' performance during the season.
"I don't control lightning and thunder," Guardiola joked at a press conference, referring to the calendar chaos that's coming.
No wonder. Barça, which isn't participating because it didn't earn it on the field, loses money but comes out ahead. But others, like Real Madrid, won't be so lucky.
Guardiola points directly at Real Madrid
Guardiola hinted that clubs like Real Madrid, which are participating in the Club World Cup, could arrive exhausted at the decisive months of the season.
"We'll see the consequences in November, December, January... when the Champions League quarterfinals or the league battles arrive. That's when we'll see who has paid the price," he concluded.
Guardiola knows what he's talking about. His experience tells him that excesses in the summer are paid for in the spring. If there's one thing that characterizes the Santpedor coach, it's his ability to foresee the key moments of the season.
Barça, the big winner
Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick celebrate in silence. While Real Madrid will be playing in the U.S. in July, Barça will start working on July 13. It will begin, with its players rested, a preseason in Asia focused exclusively on sports.
No distractions, no extra commitments, no tournaments breaking the rhythm.
Flick appreciates this unexpected advantage. He needs time, tactical sessions, and match practice to implement his style.
The schedule gives it to him. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso will have to deal with a schedule that will come crashing down on him without mercy.