SAD NEWS for Pep Guardiola as Manchester City are without at least four players, with a number of others far below full fitness – and Pep Guardiola knows exactly why that is
One thing is for sure that Pep Guardiola will not do in response to Manchester City’s two straight losses and ongoing fitness problem.
Guardiola looked angry in his coaching area as a great Bournemouth team beat City, who deserved to lose. The manager complained after the game, “We could not handle their energy.” He also said that their “incredible” 32-game perfect streak in the Premier League since their last loss 11 months ago was proof of this.
While three players came back from injuries and two more got better from knocks and played through the pain, Ruben Dias and John Stones were both hurt and lost for City. Injuries have kept 12 of his 20 senior outfielders from playing so far this season.
This season, there have been 59 injuries to senior players in 15 games, or 60 if you count Erling Haaland’s personal leave in the Carabao Cup win over Watford. That is an average of four outfield players missing per game. Guardiola has also had to rest other players because of the constant injuries. At Tottenham, it was Erling Haaland, and at Bournemouth, it was Rico Lewis.
Kyle Walker says that he rushed back against Bournemouth to help his tired teammates when they needed it the most.
For the first time in 13 months, City has lost two straight games. They now have a tough week ahead with a trip to Sporting in the Champions League and then a long trip to Brighton in the Premier League.
Guardiola, on the other hand, will not blame illness for his team’s bad play and will not try to explain the losses to Tottenham and Bournemouth. He will not say anything bad about the longer schedule of games, even if he thinks it is a big reason why they have so many injuries.
“Maybe we would have done better if we had five more days to get ready, but who knows? I do not want to write it down on the calendar.” Guardiola thought about it. “Now it looks like an excuse since we lost a game.” The truth is that Bournemouth won, and I am happy for them.
I remember that we played a lot of games in the past. We might play almost 70 games if we make it to the finals of the World Cup. Like the NBA, but their breaks last four months while ours only last three days.
Last season’s tiredness has led to a lot of problems this season. Phil Foden said that is why he missed a few games lately, and he also blamed the same f-word for Rodri’s injury that ended his season. Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, and others have picked up small injuries that got worse during the 11-month season that came before this one.
“That is because of accidents you have had in the past.” “It is standard for that person,” the boss said. “It is going to happen, and we need to be ready for it by having the right number of practices and games.” Our goal for our physical health is to get as ready as we can for games.
“We can not practice or do anything.” The same as the last few seasons, but when you win a lot, the players say, “Wow.” We have to accept our bodies as they are and deal with them in the best way possible. Let us learn from today and keep going.