Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is taking a cautious approach with his star midfielder, who is still grappling with the aftermath of a serious ACL injury sustained last season. Although the player made a promising return to action in May and started in three consecutive matches against United, Napoli, and Arsenal, he was subsequently sidelined for the next two games. Guardiola believes the midfielder is not yet ready to endure the rigors of three high-intensity matches in a single week.
Guardiola said: “Now he is not injured but the week before was so demanding with United, Napoli and especially Arsenal and right now he’s not able to play three games in a week at a top level – top intensity, demanding opponents. My feeling right now is he is not ready because he needs time. This type of injury, it is minimum one year and after that you must be patient.. Nico [Gonzalez] made an incredible game last game and is improving day by day and [Mateo] Kova[cic] will be quite similar. Tijjani [Reijnders] can play there, and see what happens.”
Guardiola is also managing the recovery of summer signing Rayan Cherki, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury for the past four weeks. The manager has decided to keep Cherki out of the upcoming matches against Monaco and Brentford to prevent any further aggravation of the injury. However, Guardiola is optimistic about Cherki’s return, as well as the potential comebacks of Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and possibly Omar Marmoush, in time for the home game against Everton after the October international break.
Guardiola said: “Maybe I will swallow my words but I like many things that I see. We have to improve and make steps forward in our game, not our mentality, but in the way we play we have to make a step forward. But we will do it. I’m so positive with that. I’m so obsessed with the team playing better and better. We made three points against a top side like Napoli, we have to win all the games at home and one or two away. I don’t think further than that and hopefully after Brentford we will have many players back – Cherki, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri, hopefully Omar.”
Guardiola’s focus remains on ensuring the team’s long-term success by carefully managing player fitness and recovery. With a crucial Champions League match against Monaco on the horizon, the manager is keen to maintain momentum while prioritizing the health of his squad. As City aims for back-to-back wins in the competition, the strategic rotation of players like Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders will be pivotal in sustaining performance levels.
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