Pep Guardiola Warns Man City Are 'In Trouble' Amid Injury Crisis
In the loss to Tottenham, City not only faced a tough opponent but also suffered further setbacks in their squad. Manuel Akanji was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup during the warmup, and Savinho was stretchered off in the second half due to an ankle injury.
Pep Guardiola has expressed serious concern for Manchester City's squad depth following a wave of injuries that has left the Premier League champions with just 13 senior players available. The alarm bells were sounded after City's first defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Match Overview
In the loss to Tottenham, City not only faced a tough opponent but also suffered further setbacks in their squad. Manuel Akanji was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup during the warmup, and Savinho was stretchered off in the second half due to an ankle injury. These injuries compounded an already dire situation, as City were already missing key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker. Erling Haaland remained on the bench, as Guardiola was wary of risking the star striker with the team already so depleted.
Guardiola's Concerns
Following the match, Guardiola addressed the media, stating, "We are 13 players, so it's really difficult. I think we are in trouble, because in nine years we've never had a situation with many, many injuries." The City manager highlighted the need for his players to step up in this challenging period, emphasizing that they need to band together and give more effort, especially with a limited recovery time ahead.
Upcoming Challenges for City
Looking ahead, Manchester City has a tough schedule, with three away matches before the international break. They will face Bournemouth in the Premier League this Saturday, followed by a Champions League clash against Sporting CP in Lisbon three days later. Their run of fixtures will conclude with a visit to Brighton, making it crucial for the squad to manage their fitness and resilience amid the ongoing injury crisis.
Guardiola's comments signal a significant challenge for the defending champions as they navigate this tough stretch, raising questions about their ability to maintain form and compete on multiple fronts with such a depleted squad.
