'We pay a lot of money, shut up!' - Man City boss Pep Guardiola explains why he's helpless despite frustration over Premier League scheduling before Champions League matches

Guardiola had previously expressed his frustration over the fact that City had to play Manchester United on Sunday, just three days before their last-16 second leg against Copenhagen in Europe. He had said that no other country obliges its teams to play on a Sunday when they are in European action the following Wednesday. City ended up strolling past the Danish side, winning 3-1 to secure a 6-2 scoreline on aggregate, but he continued to complain about the scheduling after the match.

Guardiola told a press conference: "Talk to the Premier League? They would say 'We pay a lot of money, shut up!'"

Guardiola made seven changes to his line-up against Copenhagen following the 3-1 win over United in the Manchester derby, with his side facing a crucial Premier League title showdown at Liverpool on Sunday. The coach, however, denied that he was resting players for the trip to Anfield, insisting he took the second leg with Copenhagen deadly seriously. "I needed fresh legs, I knew how tired my players were," he added. "In some countries when you play on Wednesday they allow you to play on Saturday. I needed fresh legs, people who can sustain a match like this."

City have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the seventh successive season.

City will learn their next opponents in the Champions League quarter-final draw on March 15. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also qualified for the next round, with the remaining four ties to be played next week.