Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola relishes having to overcome unexpected hurdles and has had a big one lined up for him
Man City boss Pep Guardiola gestures
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
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There's a good chance that Pep Guardiola kicks off in his press conference on Friday lunchtime, raging about the Premier League handing Manchester City the most awkward schedule they could have had for the end of the season as reaching the FA Cup final has effectively made their hopes of winning the league more difficult. That is the way it can break for any team going in multiple competitions, but there were a number of missed opportunities in the last three months from the league that could have prevented that.
Ten years isn't necessary to know not to second guess the City boss though, and he may well chirp up that the schedule is what it is and they have dealt with similar before - which they have. As Guardiola has revealed in recent weeks and months, he still remembers decisions from a decade ago that have gone against his team.
That is perhaps the most important thing to come out of the fixture row. Like refereeing decisions, people who think there is some great conspiracy against their team assume too much organisation and skill when the reality is just that the general standard isn't that great but it will infuriate Guardiola all the same.
All the City boss feels - whether he decides to speak publicly about it or not - is a perceived injustice against his team. The count has been lost on the number of press conferences where he has praised his team for winning what they have despite not getting (in his mind) any favourable decisions.
With six games to go in the season, and potentially Guardiola's career in club football, two trophies are up for grabs and a manager who loves nothing better than proving people wrong has been given extra fuel to spur him on. A coach who can motivate his players like no other in the game has been given a free team talk to build his players up.
It's not just Guardiola either. Bernardo Silva went out of his way early in the season to slam the scheduling, Rodri made his feelings clear about referees in the interview at Spurs that earned him an FA fine - an artillery that routinely fires has been given extra ammunition.
City may not be good enough to beat Arsenal to the league title, and the schedule may not help them. But it is well documented what Guardiola says to his players if they are tired, as well as how they respond and if the Blues need something extra to carry them over the line then this perceived slight has been gift-wrapped for them.