October 25th 2024.
Manchester City's star players, Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, are both currently recovering from injuries. The team's manager, Pep Guardiola, has confirmed that not only will De Bruyne and Walker be absent for the upcoming match against Southampton, but so will Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish due to minor knocks.
De Bruyne, who has been named Premier League Player of the Season twice, sustained a groin injury during a game against Inter Milan last month and has since missed the last seven games in all competitions. Walker, on the other hand, has been unable to play in the last two matches due to a knee problem. With Doku and Grealish also out, Guardiola faces a tough decision in choosing his starting lineup for the weekend's game against Southampton.
Despite the absence of these key players, City still has a strong squad with depth that most other clubs can only dream of. They enter the match as the clear favorites, with a whopping 19-point lead over Southampton at this early stage of the 2024/25 season. While there were hopes that some of the injured players may make a return for the game, Guardiola has stated that it is still too soon for them to be back on the field.
When asked about De Bruyne and Walker's availability, Guardiola responded with a simple "no." He also stated that he is unsure of when De Bruyne will be fully recovered and able to play again. While he would love to have all of his players available for selection, Guardiola understands that injuries are a part of the game and he hopes for a speedy recovery for his players.
As for Doku and Grealish, Guardiola has also ruled them out for the match. However, he has great admiration for Southampton's manager, Russell Martin, and believes that he will eventually find success if he sticks to his principles. Guardiola also emphasized the importance of not changing one's thoughts or beliefs in the face of poor results, as it can affect the players' confidence.
In their previous match against Sparta Prague, City's young talent Phil Foden scored his second goal of the season. After the game, Foden expressed that he is feeling like he is returning to his best after feeling burnt out from the previous season. Guardiola has no concerns about Foden's performance and believes that he will continue to improve and showcase his natural talent.
The manager also acknowledged that players, like Foden, may have ups and downs in their performance, but it is important to support and be patient with them. He is happy to hear that Foden is feeling good and believes that it ultimately depends on the player to overcome any setbacks and continue to excel on the field.
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