MANUEL AKANJI has questioned Manchester City’s wisdom in taking part in the Club World Cup – insisting it could wreck the team’s fitness for next season.
Pep Guardiola‘s men endured a first trophyless season since 2017 after finishing third in the Premier League and losing the FA Cup final.
However, their campaign could continue until mid-July if they complete a seven-game run to the Club World Cup final.
Centre-back Akanji, already in the US on Switzerland duty, will remain Stateside for the Fifa tournament.
The 29-year-old said: “I have been a strong critic of this competition for some time now.
“We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest.
“My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either.
“But it’s now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it.
“If we take part, then of course we want to win it.
“But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter.”
Akanji, City’s 2022 buy from Borussia Dortmund, fears fitness woes might impact their ability to once again win trophies.
He added: “Set against the expectations we have, this hasn’t been a good season.
“We finished third in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League.
“But it is still our worst campaign for some time.
“However, Pep Guardiola still said he was proud of us for never giving up.
“The season could have finished far worse than it did.”
Meanwhile, the Citizens will start their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC from Morocco on June 18.
They will then face the Saudi side Al Ain FC five days later and then the Italian giants Juventus on June 26
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