Pep Guardiola has voiced significant concerns following Manchester City’s recent League Cup defeat to Tottenham, revealing that his squad has been severely impacted by injuries. After already missing six first-team players, the situation worsened when defender Manuel Akanji suffered a calf injury during the warm-up. Additionally, forward Savinho was stretchered off in the 63rd minute after injuring his ankle. Guardiola noted that defender Ruben Dias is also “struggling,” having been substituted at half-time.
“We have 13 players, we are in real difficulties,” Guardiola stated. “The guys that play finish most of them with problems, and we’ll see how they recover. I think we are in trouble because, in nine years, we’ve never been in a situation with so many injuries.”
Current Injury Status of Key Players
Manchester City is facing a significant injury crisis, with several key players sidelined for extended periods. Defensive midfielder Rodri is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in September. Attacking midfielder Oscar Bobb is also on the long-term injury list due to a leg fracture sustained in August, with a recovery timeline of “three or four months.”
Kevin de Bruyne, who missed a large part of last season following surgery, is currently dealing with a thigh injury. Initially expected to return soon, Guardiola has indicated uncertainty about when De Bruyne will be fit again. Full-back Kyle Walker is sidelined with a knee injury, with no specific return date provided.
Forwards Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish have also been absent from recent matches due to injuries. Guardiola mentioned that he does not anticipate Doku being available before the November international break. Prior to the match against Tottenham, the manager had named only seven substitutes in previous games, relying heavily on a depleted squad.
Evaluating the Squad Depth
Guardiola’s assertion of having only “13 players” available seems accurate when considering the current injury list. Excluding those injured, the available first-team outfield players consist of:
Defenders:
– Nathan Ake
– Ruben Dias
– Josko Gvardiol
– Rico Lewis
– John Stones
– Josh Wilson-Esbrand
Midfielders:
– Phil Foden
– Ilkay Gundogan
– Mateo Kovacic
– James McAtee
– Matheus Nunes
– Bernardo Silva
Forwards:
– Erling Haaland
This totals 13 outfield players, including Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who has yet to make a first-team appearance.
Potential Impact on the Season
Guardiola had hoped to navigate the Tottenham match without further injuries, but despite the loss, there were glimpses of promise from the young players on the pitch. The manager stressed that if injured players do not return soon, Manchester City could struggle to compete across multiple competitions.
“If these guys don’t come back as quickly as possible, we’ll struggle,” he stated. “We cannot sustain with just 14, 15 players for the season. We need the players to come back.”
As City continues to lead in the Premier League and remains unbeaten in European competitions, the urgency for a return to full strength is becoming increasingly critical for Guardiola and his squad.
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