Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has written to the Premier League to “thank” them for a demanding schedule over the festive period with two matches in less than 48 hours.

Champions City, who trail league leaders Liverpool by 11 points, visit Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday before hosting Sheffield United on Sunday and Guardiola said it left his players with little recovery time.

“I wrote to the Premier League to say thank you and we’re going to the fridge after Wolves to get ready for Sheffield United,” a sarcastic Guardiola, whose side defeated second-placed Leicester City 1-3 on Saturday, told reporters.

“Tomorrow (Sunday) is a day off, we’re training on the 23rd and 24th. The night of the 24th is off, the morning of the 25th off. Then 26th training and then 27th is Nuno’s team.”

Guardiola said it was “unrealistic” for his team to retain their league title from their current position.

Guardiola, however, said that he was planning to stay with the Premier League club next season amid talk that he would leave the champions at the end of the current campaign.

The Spaniard, who has never managed a club for more than four years, denied reports earlier this month that his contract until 2021 contained a ‘break clause’ that could allow him to leave at the end of the season.

“This is my fourth season, next season will be the fifth because I try to stay next season. It is a long time,” Guardiola said ahead of Friday’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“I am incredibly good here. I have to see if I deserve a new contract. The level has increased a lot and expectations are higher and we have to see if we can handle it. It is not just up to me.

“Now we have a break with the family and prepare (for) Wolves and the rest. We have time to think about it in the future.”

City face Wolves who are sixth in the standings and Guardiola praised their manager Nuno Espirito Santo who has overseen only one loss in their last 13 league matches.

“Wolves are always one of the toughest opponents,” Guardiola said.

“What Nuno is doing is incredible. It is one of the toughest games and at home they are incredibly organised with pace up front.

“Hopefully we can maintain the level of the last weeks and last games.”