Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed growing concerns over his squad’s fitness, describing the current injury situation as an “emergency” as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.
Following Wednesday’s disappointing 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola revealed that several key players are struggling with injuries, adding to the team’s mounting challenges.
In the match against Tottenham, City faced a double blow. Brazilian winger Savinho was stretchered off due to an ankle injury, and defender Manuel Akanji sustained a calf injury during the warm-up.
These injuries are particularly troubling as Guardiola noted he already had only 13 fit players available, with long-term absentees including Rodri and Oscar Bobb, alongside doubts surrounding the fitness of Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, and Josko Gvardiol.
Guardiola refrained from specifying which players might return for the trip to Bournemouth, stating he has “many doubts.”
However, he did confirm that Savinho’s injury is not a fracture, providing a glimmer of hope for his return. The manager is keenly aware of the toll the current fixture schedule is taking on his squad. “Today, almost all of the players play with pain,” Guardiola said. “There are moments when you have to be careful, but sometimes you have to play.”
The relentless nature of the football calendar means that teams like City must adapt quickly. Guardiola used the example of tennis star Rafael Nadal, who has famously played through pain to achieve incredible success, to illustrate the physical demands placed on athletes. “Rafa played all of his career with pain,” Guardiola noted. “He played and won I don’t know how many Grand Slams.”
As the injuries pile up, Guardiola is turning to Manchester City’s academy for reinforcements. “We are using them because we are in an emergency in certain positions,” he said, highlighting the need for younger players to step up during this challenging period.
One notable absence for City has been playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who has not featured since injuring his thigh against Inter Milan over six weeks ago.
Earlier this week, Guardiola painted a bleak picture regarding de Bruyne’s return; however, he provided more optimistic news on Friday. “He’s getting better,” Guardiola reported. “The last two or three days the doctor said he made a big step forward in terms of pain.”
In light of the recent defeat, Guardiola reflected on the team’s first loss since their FA Cup triumph, humorously suggesting that the squad was “a little bit hungover” following their Premier League title celebrations. Addressing the comment, he clarified, “It was a joke.
After winning the Premier League, we had to celebrate it; otherwise, what is the sense of [playing] 11 months to win it? My guys are really good on the pitch, but off the pitch, they are really good too. But of course, we were ready. [United] beat us fairly.”
With the Premier League match against Bournemouth on the horizon and a Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon following closely, Guardiola’s challenge is to navigate this injury crisis while maintaining competitiveness across multiple fronts.
