Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concern over the mounting injuries within his squad as they prepare for a challenging lineup of fixtures. Following their 2-1 EFL Cup loss to Tottenham on Wednesday, Guardiola revealed the extent of the team’s injury problems and acknowledged that even his fit players are dealing with physical pain.
City’s latest setbacks include Savinho, who left the pitch on a stretcher with an ankle issue, and Manuel Akanji, who picked up a calf injury during the warm-up. Additionally, long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb are joined by a list of injured or doubtful players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol. Ahead of their Saturday trip to Bournemouth, Guardiola admitted he had “many doubts” about who would be available but confirmed that Savinho’s injury does not involve a fracture.
After facing Bournemouth, City’s schedule continues with a Champions League trip to Sporting in Portugal, followed by a Premier League clash with Brighton.
Highlighting the relentless nature of the modern football calendar, Guardiola remarked on the physical toll of playing consistently at the highest level. “Today, almost all of the players play with pain,” he said, emphasizing that players sometimes must push through discomfort to keep up with the schedule of matches every three days.
Guardiola drew a comparison with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who has famously competed with injuries throughout his career, winning numerous Grand Slam titles despite ongoing pain. “Rafa played and won, I don’t know how many Grand Slams, with pain,” Guardiola noted, underlining that this level of physical endurance is often essential for athletes.
With several key players sidelined, Guardiola has increasingly turned to academy talents to fill gaps in the squad, describing the situation as an “emergency” in several positions.
Among City’s sidelined stars is playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who has not played since sustaining a thigh injury over six weeks ago in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. Though Guardiola recently hinted at a prolonged absence for the Belgian midfielder, he offered a more optimistic update on Friday, saying De Bruyne had made “a big step forward” in pain reduction over the past few days.
Guardiola also addressed his recent “hangover” comment regarding City’s FA Cup final performance against Manchester United, which followed the team’s Premier League title celebrations. After initially suggesting the festivities may have impacted their readiness for the final, Guardiola clarified that the remark was meant in jest.
