Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth. The Citizens were without six first-team players for Wednesday’s League Cup tie at Tottenham, and the situation worsened with the loss of Manuel Akanji and Savinho to injuries.
Guardiola now has just 13 senior players available, forcing him to rely on academy graduates to fill the void. The manager admitted that the situation is an “emergency” in certain positions, but he urged his team to remain positive.
“We have a lot (of injuries) in certain departments and certain positions, but it is what it is,” Guardiola said. “I am pretty sure, like I have said many times to the team, ‘Guys, try not to feel sorry for ourselves’.”
Guardiola has been forced to use academy players during the crisis, but he believes they can help the team. “We are using them because we are in an emergency in certain positions,” he said. “But yes, some of them we trust them, like in the past, to help us.”
Despite the lengthy injury list, Guardiola is not planning to dip into the transfer market in January. He believes that the squad is strong enough when fully fit, with the exception of long-term absentee Rodri.
“When we are all together, the squad is enough,” he said. “It is complete. It is nice. It is top. But then everybody is completely focused and fit.”
Guardiola also extended a welcome to Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim, who was named as Manchester United’s new manager earlier on Friday. “I congratulate him next Tuesday (when City face Sporting in the Champions League),” he said. “We faced each other as a team two or three seasons ago in the Champions League.”
