Guardiola concerned about excess injuries and warns: “We will have to talk”
Manchester City host Liverpool on matchday 26 of the Premier League
Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday on matchday 26 of the Premier League , after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid .
“We can compete with any team. We have two centre-backs out for two or three months. The Premier League is very important for us. We have played very well in the Premier League. We are not stable, but in other games, like against Newcastle , we have been at a high level. We will try to play a good game to get the points we need to stay up there and qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season,” he began by saying, at a press conference.
The Citizens have had players with a lot of physical problems and Guardiola admitted that the players are not coping with the tight schedule: «We will have to sit down with the medical department, players and agents to talk. It is clear that some of them can no longer play every three days for one or two months. That is the reality. And we have the World Cup next year. We already have a lot of players who cannot cope with what we did last year. That intensity every week, the competitions, with the travel and the rest. If you ask me what my concern is, that is it.»
Still on the subject of injuries, Guardiola updated the clinical situation of some players, including Haaland .
“We will know tomorrow, but I don’t know. It’s clear that we are stronger with Haaland . John Stones is injured, it’s difficult, we will know in the next few hours if he needs surgery. Manuel Akanji will be out for eight or 10 weeks. De Bruyne ? He didn’t start against Real Madrid because of my decision. He wasn’t injured. These are decisions. Of course he can play in the big games, like he did against Real Madrid at home,” he added.
Asked whether Liverpool are stronger with Arne Slot and without Klopp, Guardiola said: “I’m not going to answer that question. I have a lot of respect for Jurgen. I’m not going to play that game.”
