Pep Guardiola believes Millwall have saved his Manchester City squad from exhaustion.
The Championship outfit emerged as an unlikely source of assistance this week in City’s treble hunt, which continues at Wembley in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Guardiola’s team flew from Madrid to London on Thursday afternoon amid a hectic schedule that the manager again appeared exasperated by.
‘We thought we found somewhere but it wasn’t possible because that club has duties,’ Guardiola said.
‘We are more than grateful to Millwall to allow us to use this incredible pitch. It was in perfect condition.
‘We didn’t have a place. We owe them one. We thought that if we went to Manchester and trained there and then after travel back [south] today, it’s exhausting.’
Head of first-team operations Emily Maclennan negotiated the use of Millwall’s facilities and the move to stop down in London will aid the heavy legs from Wednesday’s defensive effort at Atletico Madrid.
Guardiola is set to be without both Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker at Wembley, three days after City progressed to another Champions League semi-final.
The City boss agreed with Jurgen Klopp’s complaints over the scheduling. ‘I am completely with him,’ he added. ‘But I am not going to say a word because it is not going to change. Why would I say something about something that is not going to change?
‘There is no sense. So it is what it is and we adapt. I will not have time to prepare properly for the semi-final v Liverpool but when [do we play otherwise]? It is not possible.
‘It happens for one reason – because we’re fighting for all the titles. That is good news, I’m saying that with a big smile, it’s not that I am grumpy.’
Guardiola – hoping to add a second FA Cup to his trophy cabinet – wants a better reaction in this semi-final to when they succumb to Chelsea after beating Borussia Dortmund last year.
‘It is the same situation and hopefully we can perform a little bit better than last season. Against Chelsea we were a bit flat. We have a chance to reach the final in a storybook tournament.
‘Years ago the FA Cup was probably more important than the league. We arrive now, six weeks to the end of the season and in two big semi-finals. We didn’t win the other one [Carabao Cup] because after winning four we have to be generous.’