Pep Guardiola blames 'NBA-like' seasons and congested schedule for long-term Manchester City injuries
Updated 05/11/2024 at 12:23 GMT
A frustrated Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City will just have to get on with things as their injury crisis threatens to derail a push for a fifth consecutive Premier League title. The Catalan saw his side beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth on Saturday. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri were amongst the players missing due to fitness issues. Guardiola says the hectic schedule is causing injury problems.
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Pep Guardiola believes the congested schedule is to blame for Manchester City's injury crisis - and has compared the fixture list to an NBA season.
The defending champions are still reeling after a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, a result that means they have slipped two points behind Liverpool in the title race.
That was a second successive loss for City, who have failed to win five of their last 11 games across all competitions.
But they have not been helped by seeing a plethora of stars sidelined by long-term fitness issues.
Guardiola admits he and his players will have to get on with things, as they attempt to win a fifth successive English crown.
But having already played 16 games across the opening three months of the campaign, the manager says the schedule is taking its toll.
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“In the past, the previous seasons, we played a lot of games," he said. "Maybe when we go to the World [Club] Cup, arriving at the last stages of the competition, we’re going to play more than 70 games.
"And 70 games is like the NBA, but the NBA has four-month holidays, and we have three weeks, because it’s not this season, it comes from the previous season, the previous season, the previous season.
"When that happens, you have injuries for a long time."
The selection problems for Guardiola are wide-ranging.
Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is out for the remainder of the campaign after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, while Kevin De Bruyne has not played since September due to a thigh issue.
On top of that pair, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden have been amongst the players to spend time in the treatment room.
As such, Guardiola has said some of the squad are having to play while short of full fitness.
"There are players that are not in the best way and they make an incredible effort to be here," Guardiola added.
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"So Manu [Akanji] and Nathan [Ake] were not in really good condition, so until the last moment I didn’t know Nathan could play and he says: ‘No, I want to try, I want to try.’"
The manager then revealed that De Bruyne is nearing a return to action.
The Belgian was on the bench at Bournemouth, although that is where he remained for the duration of the game.
City are away to Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, and Guardiola has hinted that his star midfielder might return in Portugal.
"Kevin yesterday [Friday] started to feel better," he concluded. "But it’s been one month and a half, and the game was so demanding.
“I tried to take care of him. We need him and he will be back in the right moment.”
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