Pep Guardiola
Manchester City have received encouraging news regarding the fitness of Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku, potentially bolstering their squad ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures. Dias could return to face Liverpool next Sunday, while Doku, who recently provided two assists in City’s Champions League victory over Galatasaray, is also on the mend after being forced off with an injury.
Pep Guardiola said: “We hope Doku will be fit again when we return to Champions League action in March, and the diagnosis on Friday was even more positive. While City will do their best to ensure Doku gets the rest he needs, he could be back in time to face Salford in the FA Cup or Newcastle in the Premier League.”
Lijnders said: “A top team is defined by the individual quality of our form players and how he was constantly available between the lines and to attack, the first assist to Erling was unbelievable. Sorry that he went out but now we look. It’s a similar injury to the last one, at that time it was on the lateral side and now it’s in the centre. The last one took 18 days, I presume this will be a little shorter. We have to take time but Jeremy is a robust player.”
Lijnders, filling in for his boss on media duties, emphasized the importance of focusing on the next game in a title race. He noted that despite Liverpool’s impressive points tallies in previous seasons, City could potentially win the league this year with fewer points, given Arsenal’s recent struggles. City, though not in peak form, remain optimistic due to Arsenal’s inability to extend their lead significantly.
Lijnders added: “It’s about us. I’ve been in a few titles race, it’s always about just focusing on the next game. I know it’s a cheeky answer but you have to win your own games, create your own path and do things that you can control and with this you have to put pressure, chase and go behind them. They have to feel us and that is only by winning football matches.”
City’s potential injury boost comes at a critical juncture as they prepare for matches against Salford in the FA Cup and Newcastle in the Premier League. The return of key players like Dias and Doku could provide the necessary impetus for City to maintain pressure on their title rivals and capitalize on any slip-ups by Arsenal. With the league leaders set to face Tottenham, City will be keen to assert their presence and continue their pursuit of the Premier League title.
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