Pep Guardiola sarcastically ‘thanks’ the Premier League for giving Man City a Wednesday-Saturday turnaround after the Super Cup, as he bans Jack Grealish and Co from alcohol in their celebrations

Pep Guardiola was unable to hide his frustration at Manchester City’s already congested fixture schedule following their penalty shootout win against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. 

Last season’s Champions League winners recovered from an early concession to Youssef En-Nesryi and equalised through youngster Cole Palmer, before prevailing on spot kicks. 

Having seen his team come through a tough 120minute workout in Greece, Guardiola made sure to aim a dig at the Premier League following its decision to schedule their next game on Saturday evening. 

And even joked that the 72 hour turnaround meant celebrations of their maiden win the competition would have to be restricted to soft drinks.  

‘Of course tomorrow we’ll be even happier than today,’ the Spaniard told reporters post-match. ‘Recovered, not one drop of alcohol today. 

Guardiola intimated that celebrations of their first UEFA Super Cup will be vastly different to those after City won the Champions League at the end of last season 

Cole Palmer levelled the scores for City in the second half after latching onto Rodri’s delivery and steering a header home

‘Recover as much as possible because again from Greece, thank you so much to the Premier League to let us play on Saturday not on Sunday or Monday. Thank you so much.’ 

The scenes after Wednesday’s win will be a far cry from the ones witnessed following City’s historic treble celebrations last term. Winger Jack Grealish led the festivities in June, which began with a £10,000 all-night party after their 1-0 Champions League final win against Inter Milan.

Th 27-year-old’s exploits were then well documented as took every opportunity to mark the special occasion, jetting off to Ibiza with several other City stars including Erling Haaland, before the Citizens’ title-winning parade.

The party immediately began after Manchester City’s win against Inter Milan in June 

Grealish and Erling Haaland celebrated winning the club’s first UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla

The City boss made four changes to the side which earned a 3-0 victory against Burnley on the opening day and handed a first full debut to £72m signing Josko Gvardiol at the at the Karaiskakis Stadium. 

The Citizens were of course without Kevin De Bruyne, who suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury he sustained last season’s Champions League final and is expected to be out for several months. 

Meanwhile, defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias who were both surprise omissions for the last Friday’s game at Turf Moor made the trip to Europe but were unused substitutes. 

City welcome the early table-toppers Newcastle to the Etihad on Saturday evening, buoyed by their thumping 5-1 victory against Aston Villa on matchday one.