Manchester [UK], September 27 (ANI): Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has criticised the hectic football calendar, claiming that no one really cares about the players.

Earlier this week, after the win against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, Guardiola had declared that he only had 13 fit players as City struggled to bounce back to full strength after a short pre-season.

Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus have both been sidelined with injury, while Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also facing fitness issues.

"The reality is what it is. It is not just Man City, it is all the clubs and countries. Nobody cares about the players. Everyone - the Premier League, UEFA, EFL - has defended their own business and position. The players had a two-week pre-season and now they have to play every three days for 11 months. We will not change anything saying the opposite," Goal.com quoted Guardiola as saying.

"I understand it is an exceptional situation for everyone - restaurants, theatres, cinemas, museums. Everyone is struggling. We are not an exception. We have to believe in what we are doing and try and play a good game. We have three players who came back from national teams injured. We cannot control that. They let them play two games in four days without preparation. They are not machines," he added.

With Jesus' injury, problems for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola have increased as the side is already grappling with the injury of Sergio Aguero.

For the upcoming Premier League fixture against Leicester City, Manchester City will have Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte back following their spells in isolation after the positive COVID-19 test.

Manchester City and Leicester City will lock horns against each other on Sunday, September 27. (ANI)