Pep Guardiola’s Confidence in Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence that Manchester City can effectively compete across all four major tournaments this season, provided that his players can remain injury-free. The team faces a busy schedule leading up to Christmas, featuring matches in the Premier League, the Champions League, and the EFL Cup. They will also enter the FA Cup in January, starting from the third round.
Team Depth and Resilience
Following a challenging previous season in which injuries severely affected the squad’s performance, Guardiola feels reassured by the current depth and strength of his team.
“If we keep our squad fit, we’ll aim to challenge in every single match and throughout all competitions,”
the City manager stated at a press conference. He emphasized a marked difference from last season, where injuries hindered the team’s ability to compete adequately.
“There will always be injuries during the course of a season, but we believe in our potential to stay competitive,”
Guardiola added, underlining the team’s resilience.
Injury Concerns Ahead of Newcastle Match
However, it’s worth noting that for the upcoming match against Newcastle this Saturday, City will be without key players Rodri and Mateo Kovacic. Kovacic’s absence comes after he underwent surgery on an Achilles injury and he is now facing additional recovery time due to another ankle operation. Guardiola acknowledged the challenging circumstances for Kovacic, praising his determination to play through discomfort prior to his surgeries.
“He made a tremendous effort, but unfortunately he couldn’t continue,”
Guardiola remarked.
“It’s common for players to experience some level of pain and niggles, but we remain hopeful for a successful recovery.”
