Pep Guardiola backs Wenger’s two-year World Cup plan

The legendary Arsenal manager’s bold new World Cup plan has received the blessing from none other than Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola has backed Arsene Wenger’s idea for a World Cup to take place every two years, instead of the traditional four-year gap.

Wenger, who now works as FIFA’s chief of global football development, believes the football calendar is ‘outdated’. He reckons changes are inevitable to reduce the number of games, traveling involved and to supply more meaningful matches.

🗣 "Overall I think I have got a very positive response."

Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger explains his vision for the World Cup taking place every two years but says it will be a decision made by 211 countries who are affiliated with FIFA 👇 pic.twitter.com/Ev5ljdXx7n

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 9, 2021

The likes of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and La Liga chief Javier Tebas have opposed Wenger’s idea, although icons such as Ronaldo Nazario have supported it.

A vote of FIFA’s 211 members is likely to take place later this year.

“I’m glad when new ideas are put on the table to be discussed. You don’t have to criminalize ideas,” said Guardiola as quoted by The Independent.

“The clubs and the leagues defend their position, FIFA defend theirs and UEFA defend theirs. That’s why when we talk about global football ideas, it is ridiculous because everyone just looks after themselves. The World Cup is amazing. As a supporter, I enjoy watching and if it is every two years that would be good. I’m in agreement with Arsene in that if it isn’t the World Cup, then it will be another competition. The Confederation Cup or a new tournament.

“The only reality is that the top players only have two weeks off, not three months for regeneration physically and mentally. It is just two or three weeks off. During 11 months it is games, games, games.

“What I think Arsene has proposed is a tournament of the biggest quality. OK, we don’t play the World Cup and they’ll just create another tournament, that is for sure.”

Guardiola added: “I’m glad that one person who has done incredible things in world football – not just the Premier League – has put a situation on the table. We are going to talk about the good things and bad things related to it.

“But don’t say altogether we’re going to think about it because this is ridiculous. Everybody thinks for themselves, that’s why I’m not a big supporter of (the idea) that we will unify what is best for football for the next years.”