Guardiola admits Newcastle have advantage over Manchester City

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes that Newcastle United will have an advantage when the sides meet on 19th August.

Newcastle United travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the Premier League in under two weeks’ time. It will be the Magpies’ second game of the season, after they get their campaign underway at St James’ Park against Aston Villa this Saturday.

For Manchester City, however, the clash with Newcastle will mark their fourth competitive outing of the new season. They have already lost to Arsenal in the Community shield, and will take on Burnley in the Premier League this weekend, and then must travel to Greece to contest the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla on Wednesday night.

They will travel back from Greece next Friday, before facing Newcastle the following day. Guardiola believes this hectic schedule puts his side at a disadvantage. 

As quoted by the Manchester Evening News, the Spanish coach said, “we finish an incredibly stressful season, the players went to their national teams and had maybe not even three weeks…we have to recover well and prepare well [for] the game against Burnley and then travel to Athens to play at 10pm, finish at 2, then come back on Friday and after – thank you! – play on Saturday against Newcastle at home.”

Newcastle still face tough task

Despite this major advantage, Eddie Howe will still be expecting a very tough test against last season’s all-conquering treble-winners.

Manchester City have a deep enough squad to cope with a busy fixture list, and will be taking the threat of Newcastle very seriously. The Tyneside outfit certainly can’t rely on Manchester City being tired to get a result.

That being said, Guardiola’s side weren’t at their brilliant best against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. If there is ever a ‘good time’ to play them, then early on in this season may well be it. Especially with the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol still bedding in at key positions on the pitch.

Newcastle will have to be at their best and press home every advantage they have to beat Manchester City, but they will be boosted by Guardiola’s pessimism.