Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, criticizes Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, has responded to Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s repeated complaints about the overabundance of fixtures in professional football.

The president of UEFA argued: “It’s simple, but it’s easy to criticize UEFA and FIFA all the time. You earn less money if you play less. The manufacturing workers who receive €1,000 a month are the ones who should be complaining.” Everyone wants more championship games, he continued, but nobody gives up on anything. In the Champions League group stage, clubs desired 10 games. Eight will be there; it’s the ideal number. The presidents disagree that domestic leagues should contain 18 clubs. They ought to know that two household glasses are excessive.

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After Barcelona’s manager made Bernardo Silva’s opinion apparent, Pep Guardiola gave a candid answer.

Ceferin discussed the 2024 Champions League format change with Gazzetta dello Sport, justifying UEFA’s choice to alter the group stage and decrying the existing league as “too predictable.” “You can already guess who will play in the Round of 16 following the draw today,” he remarked. Big clubs will meet more regularly in the future, lesser clubs will have more opportunities to qualify, and the competition will be fierce. It will be amazing ridiculous.

Klopp and Guardiola have criticized the Premier League, FA, UEFA, and FIFA for scheduling more intense matches at both the club and international levels. In his extended tirade that followed Liverpool’s FA Cup triumph over Chelsea in May, Klopp made specific mention of UEFA.

The German stated, “The Nations League is the reason I am not in such a good mood when I speak about UEFA.” We are nearing the end of a season in which some players have played more than 70 games, and I still believe this to be one of the most absurd conceptions in sport.

We continue to play Nations League games because we have to because we have to [when] there is no tournament, who cares we play four, five, or six games with the national teams. Easily – club games 63 or 64, plus internationals – and then move direct to 75, which is pretty ridiculous

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has fired back at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola for their constant complaints regarding fixture congestion in elite football

Ceferin has told Klopp and Guardiola to stop complaining about fixture congestion

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola have been told to stop complaining by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

The Slovenian chief has fired back at the pair of Premier League coaches, who have often voiced their concerns regarding player welfare amid fixture congestion within the football calendar. But Ceferin has attempted to silence the duo by declaring that “factory workers” in much less privileged positions are the ones with license to moan.

UEFA’s head honcho argued: “It’s easy always to attack FIFA and UEFA, but the thing is simple. If you play less, you get less money. Who should complain are the factory workers who get €1,000 per month.” He added: “Everyone wants more cup games, but nobody gives up on anything. Clubs wanted 10 games in the Champions League group stage. They’ll have eight, it’s the right number. Domestic leagues should have 18 clubs, but the presidents do not agree. They should understand that two domestic cups are too many.”

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Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Ceferin also discussed the Champions League’s format change in 2024, defending UEFA’s decision to change the group stage and calling the current competition ‘too predictable’. He said: “Today, you can already predict who will play in the Round of 16 after the draw. In the future, big clubs will meet more frequently, smaller clubs will have more chances to qualify and the group will be fought until the end. It will be spectacular.”

Klopp and Guardiola have been critical on how the Premier League, FA, UEFA and FIFA have scheduled tournaments at both club and international level, increasing the amount of high-intensity games. Following Liverpool’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea in May, Klopp embarked on a lengthy rant and directly referenced UEFA.

“The reason I am not in such a good mood when I speak about UEFA is because of the Nations League,” the German explained. “I still think it is one of the most ridiculous ideas in the world of football because now we finish a season where [some] players have played more than 70 games.

“Easily – club games 63 or 64, plus internationals – and then go direct to 75, which is pretty mad and we continue with Nations League games because we have to play them [when] there is no tournament, who cares we play four, five or six games with the national teams.”

Klopp and Guardiola have both criticised football authorities such as UEFA about fixture congestion

Klopp and Guardiola have both criticised football authorities such as UEFA about fixture congestion(REUTERS)

Join the debate! Do you agree with Ceferin or Klopp and Guardiola? Give us your thoughts in the comments section.

Klopp was particularly unhappy that the Reds were forced to play a league game at Southampton three days after the final, which went to extra-time and penalties. “It’s tough but it’s better you moan and argue when you have won something than when you lose,” he continued. “I will sit here and say it and people will say, ‘Stop whining!’ No-one else is doing it, you don’t think about it for a second. ‘It’s tough, huh? Maybe it would be better if you play on Thursday.’ 120 minutes and then Tuesday, come on. It’s massive.”

hard, huh? You should consider playing on Thursday if possible. Come on, Tuesday is in 120 minutes. It’s enormous.”

Guardiola frequently concurs with his colleague’s blunt opinions, even going so far as to say that a strike would be the answer. Last December, as the busy holiday season drew near, he said, “The difficulty is the fixtures. “The calendar, which includes 365 days of international commitments for the national team and numerous games in large competitions. After two or three weeks of summer vacation for the players, the current season begins. This is excessive.

“Since the issue cannot be resolved through dialogue alone, should the players and managers band together and call a strike? The business is more important than the wellbeing for FIFA, the Premier League, and the broadcasters.”