December 13th 2024.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is facing a challenge as he prepares for the upcoming Manchester Derby. Injuries have been plaguing his team, leaving him with limited options for the match against Manchester United on Sunday. In a press conference on Friday, Guardiola openly admitted that he may have to surprise everyone with his starting lineup due to the mounting injuries at the back.
The defending champions will be without key players such as John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji, who are all injured. In addition, Rico Lewis will also be missing in action as he serves a suspension following his red card in the game against Crystal Palace last week. This leaves Guardiola with only three senior defenders - Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol. Guardiola expressed that he will have to get creative with his starting XI against United.
City's recent form has not been the best, with seven losses in their last ten games, including a defeat against Juventus in Turin on Wednesday night. However, Guardiola is confident that the team's spirit and determination remain intact despite the challenging circumstances. He sees the upcoming derby as a potentially season-defining game against Ruben Amorim's side.
The manager is still unsure of his strategy for the match and is considering various options with the limited players he has. He mentioned the possibility of using wingers as full-backs or playing with five defenders and wing-backs as wingers. Guardiola emphasized that he is still thinking about it and will make a decision after assessing the players available.
While the situation may seem disheartening, Guardiola is proud of his team's resilience and hard work. He acknowledged the players' efforts, especially with the injuries and exhausting game schedule. He also highlighted the importance of players like Bernardo and Gundogan, who have been playing multiple positions to fill in the gaps left by injured players. Guardiola assured fans that the team's spirit is still strong and they will give their best in the derby.
Both Akanji and Ake have missed the last two games for City, with Guardiola revealing that they had played through pain in their previous match against Nottingham Forest. Akanji has been dealing with discomfort in the pelvis area and adductor, but he still made an incredible effort to play. Guardiola praised his determination, along with Ake's, despite not being in their best physical condition. He also commended Ake's reliability and strength as a player.
As Guardiola and Amorim prepare to face each other once again, the manager is confident that his team will give their all and continue to make history. Despite the challenges they may face, Guardiola believes in the strength and determination of his team, and their fans should do the same.
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