Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces a significant challenge with only 13 first-team players available for their upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth, providing a boost for Arsenal and Liverpool in the title race.
Guardiola revealed the extent of City’s injury crisis, which includes season-ending injuries to Rodri and Oscar Bobb, as well as ongoing absences for key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish. The situation has worsened recently, with Manuel Akanji suffering a calf injury during warm-ups and Ruben Dias leaving the game against Tottenham at halftime.
As City prepares for a tough schedule, including matches against Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton before the international break, Guardiola expressed concern over the team’s prospects, noting that any misstep could benefit Arsenal and Liverpool.
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“We have 13 players; we are in real difficulties,” he said in a press conference. “Most of the players are finishing with issues, and we’ll see how they recover. I think we are in trouble.”
Guardiola emphasized the unprecedented nature of the injury crisis, stating, “In nine years, we’ve never faced so many injuries. The players are stepping up together, and we will do our best in this short recovery time.” He also indicated that neither De Bruyne nor Grealish would likely return until after the international break and mentioned the possibility of involving youth players due to the lack of senior options.