Man City boss Pep Guardiola tears apart FIFA rule change that will impact Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the press ahead of Manchester City's clash with Fulham, and the Citizens boss made his feeling on the new FIFA Club World Cup rules clear.

Pep Guardiola has taken a firm stand against the new FIFA regulations for Club World Cup squad selections, questioning "What makes a 'strongest' team?" amidst Chelsea and Manchester City being made to take their strongest squads and play their best teams.

The 32-team tournament will take place between June 15 to July 13 next year in the USA. Chelsea and Man City are the only two English teams taking part.

FIFA instigated this initiative to ensure top talents, including Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Chelsea's Cole Palmer feature in the USA matches. Guardiola, who's contract concludes prior to the end of the tournament, aims to manage City but refuses to be swayed by mandates dictating his selection policy.

The City boss made his feelings on the new rules clear in a recent press interview: "What is the strongest players? Which ones?" He questioned, via the Express. "If you tell me for them which players are stronger than the other ones? I don't understand.

"We go all the squad there, we don't go for one game. Right? I don't know the competition itself right now, but we don't go for 11 players. We go for the whole squad.

"I don't understand for the selection which player is stronger than the other one. I know. Strong means form? Maybe the strongest player for them is in a really bad condition for many reasons.

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"Professional, physical, injuries, niggles. And I'm going to play other ones. I'm not going to [have them] say before the game which player to play. I will decide."

Guardiola also passionately defended his club amidst their 115 charges from the Premier League. He even warned a journalist against discussing City's long winning streak against Saturday's opponents Fulham, arguing that it tempts fate on the eve of a match.

The City boss also discussed the fitness of midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who has withdrew from the Belgium squad for the upcoming international break. "How can he go when he didn't play one game? I never understood that," he said

"He cannot play with us, cannot play with Belgium. He didn't say to me he is going to retire from Belgium. He didn't say that to me, but I don't know Kevin's mind. For that game he is injured so is not available."

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