Manchester City manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-to-earn-new-contract-pep-guardiola-269437">Pep&nbsp;Guardiola</a>&nbsp;has written to the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;to "thank" them for a demanding schedule over the&nbsp;festive&nbsp;period with two matches in less than 48 hours.

Champions City, who trail&nbsp;league&nbsp;leaders Liverpool by 11 points, visit Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday before hosting Sheffield United on Sunday and&nbsp;Guardiola&nbsp;said it left his players with little recovery time.

"I wrote to the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;to say thank you and we're going to the fridge after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-wolves-beat-villa-to-move-into-top-eight-261293">Wolves</a> to get ready for Sheffield United," a sarcastic&nbsp;Guardiola, whose side defeated second-placed Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday, told reporters.

"Tomorrow (Sunday) is a day off, we're training on the 23rd and 24th. The night of the 24th is off, the morning of the 25th off. Then 26th training and then 27th is Nuno's team."

Guardiola&nbsp;said it was "unrealistic" for his team to retain their&nbsp;league&nbsp;title from their current position, but added that they would not stop chasing unbeaten <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpools-hunger-for-titles-like-an-addiction-lallana-269291">Liverpool</a>.

City have 38 points from 18 games having played one match more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-end-sensational-year-as-roberto-firminos-extra-time-goal-seals-club-world-cup-269525">Juergen Klopp's</a> side, who won the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-chelseas-frank-lampard-savours-win-over-old-mentor-jose-mourinho-269624">Club World Cup</a> in Doha on Saturday.

"When a team has 16 (league) victories from 17, it's unrealistic to think we're going to chase them," he added.

"It's unrealistic right now. We have to try to win our games, secure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-mourinho-masterstroke-pays-off-as-tottenham-spurs-hit-back-to-win-264816">Champions&nbsp;League</a>&nbsp;for next&nbsp;season&nbsp;and then you never know."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has written to the Premier League to "thank" them for a demanding schedule over the festive period with two matches in less than 48 hours.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has written to the Premier League to "thank" them for a demanding schedule over the festive period with two matches in less than 48 hours. Champions City, who trail league leaders Liverpool by 11 points, visit Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday before hosting Sheffield United on Sunday and Guardiola said it left his players with little recovery time. "I wrote to the Premier League to say thank you and we're going to the fridge after Wolves to get ready for Sheffield United," a sarcastic Guardiola, whose side defeated second-placed Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday, told reporters. "Tomorrow (Sunday) is a day off, we're training on the 23rd and 24th. The night of the 24th is off, the morning of the 25th off. Then 26th training and then 27th is Nuno's team." Guardiola said it was "unrealistic" for his team to retain their league title from their current position, but added that they would not stop chasing unbeaten Liverpool. City have 38 points from 18 games having played one match more than Juergen Klopp's side, who won the Club World Cup in Doha on Saturday. "When a team has 16 (league) victories from 17, it's unrealistic to think we're going to chase them," he added. "It's unrealistic right now. We have to try to win our games, secure Champions League for next season and then you never know."

Guardiola takes dig at Premier League, says 'thank you' for busy festive season

champions-league-2

Champions league, News on Champions league, stories on Champions league, articles on Champions league, Champions league stories at Wion, Champions league news, Champions league latest news

champions league-2

Guardiola takes dig at Premier League, says 'thank you' for busy festive season