Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says football is overworking its players.

Guardiola is in favour of increasing the number of substitutes that can be used during games to give players more of an opportunity for a rest.

He said: "It's not just English football, it's all around the world. Now they talk about a World Cup of 48 teams - we are going to kill the players.

"FIFA will decide and we accept the decision and if we are not happy we go home. They are focusing on more and more and more - it affects the quality. I am thinking just for the players. They need to breathe, to (have a) break, to enjoy.

"This kind of thing is impossible because we are going to finish (the season), then after one week the World Cup then after three weeks we go to the pre-season, we go to China, the States, Australia. You play against Milan, Juventus, Madrid and you have to win, people demand you have to play good. No preparation then you come back and it's 11 months again and it's the European Cup.

"You do this for 10 or 12 years and we don't think about the players. For that reason there has to be huge squads, more money for the clubs to spend.

"It's just three substitutions now, why you cannot make four, five or six? All the players are involved more than before, the coaches can use different tactics. Less injuries, more open games. Everything would be better. But okay, FIFA have another opinion."