Phil Foden is set to miss the start of Manchester City’s season with the foot injury he picked up during England’s Euro 2020 campaign. The Manchester City star left the England camp on crutches just over three weeks ago after missing the final against Italy and has since been spotted wearing a protective boot while the injury heals. It was hoped that Foden would be able to return to training with the rest of the England contingent in the next few days along with Brazil pair Ederson and Gabriel Jesus. Asked about Foden and De Bruyne,
Pep Guardiola said: “Phil will be out for a while, a tough injury, we have to be careful with it. Kevin still is out. I think he will come back a bit sooner than Phil apparently. But both are still out for a while.”
Those two injuries have simply added to Guardiola’s headache with the bulk of his squad unavailable for Saturday’s game and the congested schedule leaving him with no time to work with his players before the big kick off.
Pep Guardiola said: “Today, the managers in the big clubs, there are many internationals – we cannot work. We are here to handle the team spirit as well as possible, that time when you have four or five weeks to prepare. Half of the team is out and we don’t complain. It’s a pleasure to play the Community Shield. I’m lucky in the sixth season and my players know what they’ve to do. So difficult, the schedule is crazy, so tough.”
On whether City fans will get their first glimpse of Grealish,
Pep Guardiola said: “He’s not ready to start – one week training alone – but he’ll travel and be on the bench and we’ll see what happens. Normally top players adapt quick to physicality, he has to understand. Maybe I’m wrong and we cannot help him – but I’ve a feeling he knows what he has to do.”
Guardiola made it plain that Grealish will be a major asset, explainig that he has caused City plenty of pain in recent years.
Pep Guardiola said: “We suffered against him and he can play in different positions. He played for Villa in the Championship and he stayed there to promote the team when many clubs wanted him. In their first season up, to remain in the Premier League, he was leading the team and helping them to stay up. Last season when he was able they were fifth or sixth and when he was injured for two or three months, you see the mentality and quality, that’s why we thought he could help us maintain the level and try to raise it.”
