Sign up to Miguel Delaney's Reading the Game newsletter for exclusive analysis and the latest newsSign up to Miguel Delaney's weekly newsletterSign up to Miguel Delaney's weekly newsletterEmail*I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

Read our Privacy notice

Pep Guardiola concedes he does not know if Manchester City’s next Premier League challenge will be “destroyed” by their Club World Cup campaign or not.

England manager Thomas Tuchel recently said the involvement of City and Chelsea in this summer’s tournament in the United States would hand the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal a “huge advantage” in the title race.

Pep Guardiola admits Club World Cup could 'destroy' Manchester City in stark warning before Premier League return	Pep Guardiola defends Jurgen Klopp – Club World Cup ‘maybe will destroy us’	Pep Guardiola makes Jurgen Klopp admission after 'pointless' Club World Cup comments

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also described the event as “the worst idea ever implemented in football” because of concerns over player welfare.

Watch every Fifa Club World Cup game free on DAZN.

Sign up here now.

Guardiola, however, insists City – who face Al-Hilal in a last-16 tie in Orlando on Monday night (2am Tuesday UK) – are focused on rediscovering their best after a frustrating 2024-25 season and claiming the prize.

Pep Guardiola is concerned about how the Club World Cup will impact Man City’s league season (AFP/Getty)

The City manager said: “I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it.

We will see when we come back.”

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are aligned on the impact of the Club World Cup

Guardiola says he can understand the viewpoint of his old rival Klopp, now head of global soccer for Red Bull, who had a team involved in the tournament in Salzburg.

Yet he suggested people complaining might be jealous.

Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola said: “I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times.

Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here.”

Weather problems have been a recurring issue in the tournament both in terms of intense heat and thunderstorms.

A thunderstorm forced a multi-hour delay to Chelsea v Benfica

Chelsea’s last-16 victory over Benfica on Saturday was suspended for almost two hours due to lightning in the vicinity.

Guardiola said: “I am an extraordinary manager but to control lightning and thunder, still I am not good enough!

“If it is (suspended) here the same reason as why they suspend the other one, I will go inside and we will continue to be active and play again.

“It is not the ideal situation but I grew up to understand not to be worried about the situations that I can’t control.

So no problem.”

You can sign up to DAZN to watch every Club World Cup game for free


For more news relating to Chelsea, visit our sister site Chelsea Latest Live.