Pundit shares new claim after confirmed Man City news – ‘it’s the last thing you want’
Noel Whelan has insisted Barcelona’s mid-season friendly with Man City is “the last thing you want” as the new campaign kicks off.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the charity game should have been organised to be within the pre-season schedule.
As confirmed by Man City earlier this month (4 July), Pep Guardiola’s side will travel to Barcelona to take on the Blaugrana on 24 August – with all proceeds going towards ALS charity Luzón Foundation.
The game will be sandwiched in-between matchday three and four of the Premier League season.
Guardiola will share the touchline with former midfielder Xavi – and will return to the club where he won three Champions League and nine La Liga titles as player and manager.
The Spanish boss has often complained about the ardous fixture schedule which comes with Man City’s status as one of England’s most successful sides.
Whelan hailed the “fantastic” cause behind the friendly but insisted it will not be ideal for the Citizens.
“Once you get into the swing of things, the last thing you want is an extra game,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It just disrupts that flow and that momentum you’ve built up. But look, it’s charity.
“You can’t really grumble too much. It’s good that the clubs have committed to doing this for a good cause.
“It’s one thing you can commend the clubs for. But really it should have been scheduled for now – that last game before the Community Shield.
“It’s fantastic for both clubs to be raising money and support in this way – but I’m sure it’s not exactly what Pep would have wanted at the start of this season.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire salutes ‘pioneers’ Man City as new ‘money-spinning project’ revealed.