Guardiola Voices Concern Over Manchester City's Player Injuries

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed serious concerns about the club's current injury crisis, stating that the squad is down to just 13 fit players following a recent League Cup defeat to Tottenham. The match saw City already missing six first-team players, and the situation worsened when defender Manuel Akanji sustained a calf injury during the warm-up. Forward Savinho was also stretchered off in the second half after an ankle injury, further straining the team's resources.

Guardiola's frustration is palpable as he commented, "We have 13 players, we are in real difficulties," highlighting the physical toll on those who are still playing. He noted that many of the players are finishing matches with various issues, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of this injury crisis in his nine years at the club. With key players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne out for extended periods, Guardiola fears that if this trend continues, Manchester City will struggle to compete effectively across all competitions.

Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains hopeful that his remaining squad can step up. The young players showed promise during the match against Tottenham, with 19-year-old Nico O'Reilly narrowly missing a late equalizer. However, the manager acknowledges that sustaining a competitive edge will be challenging with such a limited squad size, urging for the quick return of injured players to maintain their performance levels in the Premier League and other tournaments.