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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge at the Club World Cup boss, which has drawn criticism from former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

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.

And he has responded to comments made about the tournament by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

England boss Thomas Tuchel recently said the involvement of City and Chelsea in this summer's event in the United States would hand the likes of defending champions Liverpool and Arsenal, who finished second last season, a "huge advantage" in the title race.

Klopp has also described the tournament as "the worst idea ever implemented in football" because of concerns over player welfare.

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However, Guardiola insists his side - who face Al-Hilal in a last-16 tie in Orlando in the early hours of Tuesday morning (2am UK time) – are focused on rediscovering their best after a frustrating 2024-25 season and claiming the prize.

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.

"The most important thing is to recover and find within ourselves what we were.

We will rest for the time the Premier League allow us.

"Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us.

"I don't know, it's the first time in our lives that this has happened.

We will see when we come back."

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.

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!

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"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.
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