Pep Guardiola addresses the media at the City Football Academy in Manchester on October 31, on the eve of his side’s Champions League match against Barcelona
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Dec 10- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on governing body FIFA to increase the number of permitted substitutes in order to avoid player burnout.
In the wake of the recent revelation that FIFA were looking at the possibility of expanding the World Cup format to include 48 teams – 16 groups of three, Guardiola has chimed in with what he feels would be a hugely beneficial rule change in domestic football.
The Spaniard feels are already being asked to plat too often, which he feels has a detrimental effect on the quality of league football.
“They are focusing on more and more and more – it affects the quality,” Guardiola told reporters.
“I am thinking just for the players. They need to breathe, to [have a] break, to enjoy.
“It’s just three substitutions now – why can you not make four, five or six? All the players [would be] involved more than before, the coaches can use different tactics.
“Everything would be better,” he concluded.
