Pep Guardiola explains Newcastle United rest priority after Man City offered fixture change

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed his side were offered an alternative date for their Carabao Cup clash with Watford, but have opted to prioritse their Premier League match with Newcastle United.

City have been handed a tricky schedule, with their third-round Carabao Cup game with the Hornets coming just two days after their Premier League showdown with title rivals Arsenal at the Etihad. They face Mikel Arteta's side on Sunday, September 22, with Championship outfit Watford due in Manchester on Tuesday, September 24.

Manchester United play their Europa League tie with FC Twente at Old Trafford on Wednesday, September 25, and policing requirements means the city cannot host two matches on the same day. Howevever, Guardiola has revealed that City could have switched their game to Vicarage Road on the Thursday evening, but that would give them only two days to prepare for Newcastle.

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As a result, they have decided to stick with the original fixture list and will have four days' rest before heading to Tyneside to face Eddie Howe's Magpies.

"It's going to happen in many cases," the City boss said ahead of their game with Brentford when asked about fixrture congestion. "It's going to happen many, many times for the teams who play in all competitions.

"They gave us the alternative to play on Thursday away in London to have more days, but we have a Saturday game in Newcastle. We've prioritised to have more rest for Newcastle and we're going to play Tuesday."

Newcastle face AFC Wimbledon away in their Carabao Cup third-round tie on the same night, with the Magpies in action three days after their Premier League game at Fulham.